Chennai's Turtle miracle

Olive Ridley hatchlings return to Chennai’s shores even as adult deaths rise.

Transcript

00:00Chennai's coastline has witnessed a beautiful wonder of nature.

00:07These are hatchlings that have been rescued from the eggs that has been laid in the beaches across Chennai.

00:14Unfortunately for this year, there were multiple reports of adults dying because of various things,

00:21especially because of fishing and nets.

00:23Every December to March, Olive Ridleys lay eggs along Tamil Nadu's coast.

00:27But in 2025, there was a tragic rise in deaths of these turtles, mainly due to fishnet violations.

00:32Authorities intervened swiftly, fined fishermen and launched night walks to collect eggs for safe incubation.

00:38Who are inside one of the tents that has been created to protect one of the most important species,

00:43a species that is considered as vulnerable and also protected by the Indian government as class 1 species.

00:50Olive Ridleys are crucial for marine ecosystem.

00:52They control jellyfish populations and maintain nutrient flow.

00:56rules so vital that they are protected under India's Wildlife Protection Act, just like tigers.

01:01A lot of people, volunteers come over and they work hard.

01:07Night, they go for turtle walking just to make sure that these species are protected.

01:12The hatcheries protect the eggs for over 40 days.

01:15Interestingly, the sand's temperature decides the sex of the hatchlings.

01:18The important aspect here is that them being a male or a female is completely dependent on the temperature.

01:26And if the temperature is below 28 degrees centigrade, it becomes a male.

01:3128 to 30, it is a mixed kind of nesting of male and female.

01:36And if the temperature is between 31 and 32, the entire nesting becomes a female structure.

01:42Tamil Nadu has stepped up conservation efforts.

01:44CMMK's Stalin announced new turtle conservation shelters under the Tamil Nadu shore project.

01:49And a marine elite force now protects these vulnerable creatures both offshore and onshore.

01:54And onshore.

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