Silvester D’Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)
Kundapur, Apr 20: A workshop on the protection of turtles held at the office of the assistant forest conservator by the forest department and ASL India concluded after offering respects to turtle conservationists and distribution of identity cards.
Kundapur sub-division assistant forest conservator Ashish Reddy said that turtle eggs were found at 20 places on Kodi beach between the years 2005 and 2020. “They were preserved for between 45 and 60 days and 329 baby turtles were left in the sea. Water creatures and water bodies from 12 nautical miles from the seashore need to be protected. The eggs of turtles are on the verge of extinction. An SOP is prepared on the basis of experience obtained from it and is being given to other coasts in the state.
“Sub-division conservationist of the forest department and biology, Dr Dinesh decided to start a centre for sea creatures. 38 positions were created after the Marine Eco system was started. The protection of turtles is stressed.”
Head of ASL, Rakesh Soonan spoke in the programme.
Assistant forest conservationist Lohith D, tourism department assistant director Somashekar Banavasi, council vice-president Sandeep Kharvi spoke. Coast guard ASI Bhasker B, CRZ Udupi division ACP Manjunath, Mangaluru division’s ACA Shivapathi, clean Kundapur project’s Shivarama Shetty were present.
15 people who indulged in the protection of turtles were felicitated. Preeti and Aditi, two female students of Kota Vivek High School who wrote an essay on the protection of turtles were honoured. Identity cards were issued to those who provide information to the department on turtles on time. Zonal forest officer Prabhaker Kulal compered the programme. Assistant forest officer Hasta Shetty thanked the gathering.
“The efforts of Kundapur SFL India who has been working hard selflessly for the last ten years to protect turtles that lay eggs are commendable,” said Mangaluru forest circle chief conservator Praksh N Netharlk. He was speaking after inaugurating the workshop on the protection of turtles held at the office of the assistant forest conservator on Monday.
“The department is proud to honour FSL India activists considering their efforts,” he said.
A demonstration of the protection of turtles was held after the inauguration. Kundapur forest sub-division DFO Ashish Reddy, forest officer Prabhaker Kulal and Rakesh Soans of FSL India were present.