A total of 130 dead female sea turtles have been recovered from the shores of Ukhiya, Teknaf, and other parts of Cox’s Bazar over the past three months, highlighting an alarming trend that threatens the marine ecosystem.
According to a Nature Conservation Management (NECOM) study, nesting sites for sea turtles in Cox’s Bazar have declined from 52 to 34 in the past decade. Experts say urgent, coordinated beach management and a government-led conservation plan are now essential.
Abdul Qayyum, NECOM’s Manager for Natural Resource Management and Climate Change, confirmed that the dead turtles were buried after recovery.
Explaining the causes of death, he said, “Turtles often get entangled in fishing nets, and in an attempt to free them, fishermen sometimes cut their flippers with sharp objects, leading to excessive bleeding and death.” He added that collisions with long-haul ships are another primary reason for fatal injuries among turtles.
Other threats include the rising population of stray dogs on the beach, which disturbs turtles during nesting. Additionally, prolonged swimming without rest often leads to exhaustion-related deaths.
Conservationists call for immediate intervention to protect this endangered species and restore their safe nesting habitats along the Cox’s Bazar coastline.
By Mohammad Morshed
Photo: Polash Shikdar
