In a distressing turn of events, two deceased turtles were discovered along the shores of Kuakata Beach in Patuakhali. The larger of the two turtles weighed approximately 40 kg, while the other measured around 35 kg.
The unsettling finding was made early Friday morning by KM Bachchu, a vigilant member of the Kuakata Dolphin Protection Committee, on the western stretch of Kuakata beach.
Following the discovery, a collaborative effort involving the Kuakata Dolphin Protection Committee, the Forest Department, and Ecofish led to the burial of the two turtles later that morning.
Sagarika Smriti, an associate researcher from the EcoFish-2 Bangladesh project of Worldfish, shed light on the situation, attributing the turtles’ presence onshore to a recent surge in jellyfish population, which serves as their primary food source. Scientifically known as Lepidochelys olivacea, these turtles typically boast a lifespan of over 50 years.
Abul Hossain Raju, another member of the Kuakata Dolphin Protection Committee, expressed concern over the condition of one turtle, noting injury marks and signs of bleeding, suggesting a potential cause of death linked to entanglement.
This grim discovery marks the first instance of turtle fatalities in 2024, following a series of similar incidents in mid-2023. Forest Department Mohipur Range Officer Abul Kalam Azad promptly responded to the situation upon notification, overseeing the proper burial of the deceased turtles, one of which emitted a foul odor, necessitating immediate action.
