Over 14,000 hatchlings, coming out of around 180 nests, have been released this season in the 14-km stretch between Napier’s bridge and Neelangarai on the Chennai coast. The nests were relocated to safer locations using scientific protocol. Sustained action by conservationists have helped with turtle conservation. For instance, the Casuarina trees planted as part of the Tsunami Reconstruction encroached upon the turtle nesting sites. Sustained efforts from conservation NGOs caused the World Bank to withdraw its loan and the forest department to agree to remove the trees upto 50 metres from the high tide line. Similarly, the Chief Wildlife Warden stepped in and took initiative to turn of bright mast lights which led turtle hatchlings astray away from the water and onto roads where they would die.
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