Around 150 marine animals stranded on Karnataka beaches every year: Report
Hubballi: Karnataka’s coastline witnesses the stranding of around 150 marine animals annually, with nearly half of them found dead, according to data collected by Reefwatch, a non-governmental organisation working in collaboration with the forest departments of Karnataka and Goa.
The majority of the reported strandings involve Olive Ridley Sea Turtles along the Karnataka's 340 km coastline, the study found, as cited by Deccan Herald on Friday.
In the last six years, over 1,800 stranded marine animals, including sea turtles, pelagic birds, and cetaceans such as dolphins, whales, and porpoises, have been documented along the coasts of Karnataka and Goa. The relatively lower rate of reporting from Karnataka is attributed to its largely secluded beaches, but growing awareness and improved networks among local fishing communities have enabled better response from forest officials in recent years.
“Monsoon and the weeks preceding monsoons tend to have a high percentage of stranding due to entanglement in ghost fishing gear and drowning due to trawl nets. We have also recorded a number of plastic ingestion, parasites and infectious cases,” DH quoted Shantanu Kalambi, Marine Veterinary Specialist and Project Manager of Reefwatch, as saying.
Human activities remain a significant cause of marine animal distress. The discharge of untreated sewage into sea, accumulation of plastic waste, and unregulated fishing in restricted zones are among the major contributing factors to the stranding events.
In a recent case, the Karwar division reported the stranding of four turtles since May 24, all of which were entangled in ghost nets. Thanks to timely intervention, all four were rescued and released back into the sea.
“Over the years we have improved our information network and gained the trust of local fishermen, who have been informing us about the stranded animals. With the help of an NGO, our staff has been treating the injured animals and monitoring them. Once they are fit, the marine animals are released into the sea,” DH quoted Karwar Deputy Conservator of Forest (DCF) C Ravishankar, as saying.
Anthony Mariyappa, DCF Mangaluru, stated that with the introduction of species recovery programme on Olive Ridley Sea Turtle, the forest department has been able to take local fishermen into confidence and address the stranded species effectively.
However, challenges persist. Sources in the department reportedly mentioned that shortage of staff is hindering the conservation activities. Currently, the department veterinaries deputed from animal husbandry department, who have been dealing with mammals, and not with marine animals.
“We need at least one marine expert in each of the division so that rescue efforts could be sped up, today we have one veterinary doctor for three-four divisions,” DH quoted one of the senior officers as saying.
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Groom kills friend hours before wedding over Rs 1.5 lakh debt; held
Beed (Maharashtra) (PTI): A groom allegedly killed his friend on the eve of his wedding in Maharashtra's Beed district, fearing he would disrupt the ceremony over an unpaid debt of Rs 1.5 lakh, police said on Tuesday.
The victim, Chand alias Guddu Tamboli (30), was found bludgeoned to death on Monday morning on the outskirts of Khokarmoh village in Shirur Kasar tehsil.
Investigations indicated that Chand had lent Rs 1.5 lakh to his friend Atiq Tamboli and was persistently demanding repayment.
Chand had apparently threatened to show up at the venue of Atiq's wedding on Monday and cause a disturbance if his money wasn't returned, a local crime branch official said.
Upset by the threat and fearing social humiliation on his wedding day, Atiq allegedly decided to eliminate his friend. On Sunday night, he called his friend to a secluded spot and allegedly killed him by crushing his head with a stone before absconding, the official said.
After the body was found on Monday, the police launched an investigation. Based on technical surveillance and localised intelligence, the police apprehended Atiq from Beed city late Monday night and booked him on charges of murder, he added.
