300 more turtle hatchlings released into Teknaf sea
The hatchlings released today were first nurtured in a hatchery in Majherpara
Another 300 turtle hatchlings, born in a hatchery near Majherpara sea beach on Shahparir Dwip in Teknaf, Cox's Bazar, have made their way into the sea.
The turtles were released around 1:30pm today (29 March) at Majherpara sea beach, located in the Sabrang Union of Teknaf Upazila, said Abdul Qayyum, manager of Natural Resources Management and Climate Change at Nature Conservation Management (NECOM).
According to Qayyum, 8,500 turtle eggs were collected from the Majherpara sea beach area. Of these, 2,000 hatchlings have already been released into the sea in multiple phases. The hatchlings released today were first nurtured in a hatchery in Majherpara.
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He further stated that a total of 25,700 turtle eggs have been collected from 12 locations across the district, including Teknaf, this year.
He said 85% of the collected eggs have successfully hatched. Today, NECOM employees Alir Johar and Md Faisal released them into the sea.
Turtles play a vital role in maintaining marine biodiversity by consuming jellyfish that prey on fish fry and by helping to clean the ocean of debris and vegetation. NECOM has been dedicated to turtle conservation efforts for the past 20 years under the supervision of the Department of Forests and Environment.
A recent NECOM survey revealed that sea turtles now lay eggs in only 34 nesting sites, a significant decline from 52 locations a decade ago. This alarming trend suggests that turtle nesting sites are increasingly under threat, emphasising the need for continued conservation efforts.
