Hundreds of turtle carcasses were found to be eaten by crows and jackals on the beach near here, putting a question mark on the safety measures undertaken by the State Government to save the endangered species.
Every year the Olive Ridley turtles throng the Odisha coast from far off places for nesting and breeding at river mouth of Devi, Rushikalya, Baitarini, Subarnarekha and Bhitarkanika. But due to some environmental pollution of sea water, hundreds of turtles were found dead from Nehru Bangla beach to Jatadhari river mouth of a stretch of 15 km.
Noted environmentalist Sankhanada Behera said these turtles are of rare species. These creatures control sea pollutions by eating away dirt and other dangerous fishes from sea water. Cargo carrying ships to Paradip and Dhamra and fishing boats operating at sea are suspected to be behind the cause of their death. Behera demanded the Forest department for postmortem of the bodies of turtles to ascertain the particular reason of their death in massive numbers.