Orissa seeks halt to missile tests during turtle nesting season

[RPK]

Orissa seeks halt to missile tests during turtle nesting season - Flora & Fauna - Environment - Home - The Times of India

BHUBANESWAR: Orissa will seek a halt to missile testing from a launch base in Bhadrak district on the state's coast during the nesting period of endangered Olive Ridley turtles, a state wildlife official said Monday.

Expressing his displeasure over the test of Agni-III missile Sunday from a launch base at the Inner Wheeler Island at Dhamra - close to a mass nesting site - P.N. Padhi, the principal chief conservator of forest (wild life), said: "The testing should have been avoided."

The launch site is about 200 km from here.

The island is close to Gahirmath marine sanctuary where 700,000-800,000 endangered Olive Ridley turtles nest every winter.

The turtles arrive and congregate in the shallow coastal waters in October and nest between December and March. Most hatchlings emerge by May.

The state government had requested the central government not to conduct missile tests from November to April.

"We are worried they did it despite our request," Padhi said.

"Now mass mating in the water is already over. Sporadic nesting has been reported. The turtles may start mass nesting any time. This is a delicate time," he said.

The state government will write to the union ministry of environment to issue instructions to the defence ministry to defer any more tests in the near future, he said.

Noted environmentalist late Bankabihari Das in 1998 had drawn the attention of the then chief of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and urged him not to test any missiles at the island during the turtle season.

Kalam had responded immediately, assuring that there will be no tests during the season.

"But now the DRDO officials have been ignoring Kalam's advice and testing missiles," wild life expert Biswajit Mohanty told IANS.

"The missile test causes vibration on the ground. The eggs would be affected. Turtles would be disturbed by the sound," he said.

A defence official said DRDO has been keeping their high power illuminating lights off during the turtle nesting season but Mohanty said the step is not enough.

 

[RPK]

Turtle nesting makes Orissa seek ban on missile-testing - dnaindia.com


Bhubaneswar: After India successfully tested Agni-III from the Wheeler’s Island off the Orissa coast on Sunday, the Orissa government on Tuesday lodged a protest with the Centre against launching missiles from the site from November to May.

“We have written a letter to the Union ministry of environment to issue directives to the defence ministry not to conduct missile tests from the island during this period. The site is close to Gahirmatha — the mass nesting ground of Olive Ridley turtles,” PN Padhi, principal conservator of forest (wildlife), said.

“Launching any missile during this period would have an adverse impact on the endangered turtles. The mating season is about to start. We are not opposed to missile-testing per se, but any kind of testing in this season will lead to some kind of ecological disorder,” said Padhi.

The state fears that continued testing would also have an impact on the movement of the turtles who travel long distances to lay eggs. The turtles may stop coming, said officials. The mass mating and nesting of turtles generally takes place from November to May.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is planning to test an interceptor missile and a series of Agni missiles in February and March. The Centre has already appealed to the DRDO for masking the high-power light at its intermediary test range centre located at Wheeler’s Island. There is a fear that Olive Ridley turtles might get distracted by bright light during mass nesting.

Expressing concern, Biswajit Mohanty, secretary, Orissa Wildlife Society said: “The government is not at all serious. The smoke, gas and light from missiles would have an impact on the life cycle of turtles.”

 

[RPK]

Greens see red over missile tests

BALASORE: The DRDO may be celebrating the successful trial of Agni-III missile, but the test has become a cause of concern for the State forest officials, environmentalists and wildlife lovers.


Moreover, the proposed tests of an interceptor missile, Agni-I and Agni-II this month and in March also have left them angry.

They feel the test during the nesting season of the Olive Ridley sea turtles would cost the endangered species dearly. The Wheelers Island from where Agni-III was tested is located near the Nasi-I and Nasi-II of the Gahirmatha beach, the world’s largest rookery of the Olive Ridley sea turtles.

Meanwhile, the State forest officials have raised voice against the DRDO authorities for initiating the tests. Every year the Government reviews the protection measures for the endangered species at a high-power committee meeting chaired by the State Chief Secretary but it has hardly any impact on them.

“In the recent meeting the issues were widely discussed and as per the decision, the DFO had written to the local defence authorities not to carry out the missile test. But they went ahead. Now we have decided to move the Centre against the lackadaisical attitude of the DRDO officials,” said Chief Wildlife Warden PN Padhi.

In the past the environmentalists had expressed concern after the tests of missiles from the Wheelers Island. They also had opposed the Defence Ministry’s activities in the Wheelers Island during the turtle season.

The test will disturb the life cycle of the Olive Ridley turtles. Besides, nesting and hatching of the turtles and their movement inside the water will be affected. In the last four years, the nesting pattern of turtles has fluctuated. In 2008-09, about 1.67 lakh turtles came for nesting whereas the previous year, saw the marine species abandoning the rookery. In 2006-07, the mass nesting figure was 1.4 lakh.

The defence experts, however, feel the testing would not have any effect on the mating or nesting since the missiles are long-range ones.

 

[Chanakyaa]

well, nature must be respected above any thing.
Im sure drdo will work out a suitable solution to this.

 

[Mister X]

Only because of such craps and hype about environment India is lagging behind and we are not able to utilize our full capacities and capabilities.

China has dictatorship they order and just do it, there is no one to raise a voice.

But in India all the development and defense is hostage to western lobbies.

Even airport, roads and dams of vital importance got delayed fore decades only because of land acquisition, PILs and such protests by puppets of foreign funded organizations.

 

[NSG_BlackCats]

Only because of such craps and hype about environment India is lagging behind and we are not able to utilize our full capacities and capabilities.

I would like to disagree with you Sir. If you do not agree with someone's point of view than he/she is crap for you??

My advise to you, just go and stand near Yamuna river in delhi for 15 minutes. You will get a better idea what these people (Craps as per your statement) are taking about.

 

[Mister X]

I would like to disagree with you Sir. If you do not agree with someone's point of view than he/she is crap for you??

My advise to you, just go and stand near Yamuna river in delhi for 15 minutes. You will get a better idea what these people (Craps as per your statement) are taking about.

I'm talking about western lobby, first understand my point then talk.

When i visit NOIDA, i have been to yamuna zillion times.

Do you want to know, what is the crap?

There are several road projects near border areas or infrastructure projects which are derailed by environment lobby.

In India jis neta ke pass do-char supporters hote hai wo jhanda leke rasta rokta hai, rail rokta hai aur progress nahi hone deta. Same with the western puppets NGOs.

China and USA the largest and biggest polluters give a damn about the environment and see their progress.

You have to choose between turtles and millions of humans.

 

[saurabh]

Can some body explain why they test in that particular area only, out of so many islands in India?

 

[RPK]

domain-b.com : Orissa seeks ban on missile tests during turtle nesting season


Bhubaneswar: India's missile tests, some successful and some not so, are having an unintended fall out. Soon after the country's premiere defence research organisation, the DRDO, successfully tested the intermediate range Agni-III from Wheeler's Island off the Orissa coast on Sunday, the state government lodged a protest with the Centre against missile launches at the site from November to May.

Olive Ridley turtle
According to state government officials, a letter has been despatched to the Union ministry of environment asking it to issue directives to the ministry of defence not to conduct missile tests from the island during this period. The site is close to Gahirmatha, which is the mass nesting ground of Olive Ridley turtles, and state government authorities are apprehensive that missile launches in this period would have an adverse impact on these creatures, which are an endangered species.

Mass mating and nesting of turtles generally takes place in the period November to May and officials point out that continued testing could likely have an impact on the movement of these turtles who travel long distances to lay eggs.

They are apprehensive that the turtles may even stop coming.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has a series of tests lined up for the coming months, including that of an interceptor missile defence missile as well as a series of Agni missiles.

 

[fanboi]

domain-b.com : Orissa seeks ban on missile tests during turtle nesting season


Bhubaneswar: India's missile tests, some successful and some not so, are having an unintended fall out. Soon after the country's premiere defence research organisation, the DRDO, successfully tested the intermediate range Agni-III from Wheeler's Island off the Orissa coast on Sunday, the state government lodged a protest with the Centre against missile launches at the site from November to May.

Olive Ridley turtle
According to state government officials, a letter has been despatched to the Union ministry of environment asking it to issue directives to the ministry of defence not to conduct missile tests from the island during this period. The site is close to Gahirmatha, which is the mass nesting ground of Olive Ridley turtles, and state government authorities are apprehensive that missile launches in this period would have an adverse impact on these creatures, which are an endangered species.

Mass mating and nesting of turtles generally takes place in the period November to May and officials point out that continued testing could likely have an impact on the movement of these turtles who travel long distances to lay eggs.

They are apprehensive that the turtles may even stop coming.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has a series of tests lined up for the coming months, including that of an interceptor missile defence missile as well as a series of Agni missiles.

Look at that cute turtle, you don't want them to die do you

No but seriously, they look like penguins that fell over.

 

[Creder]

Only because of such craps and hype about environment India is lagging behind and we are not able to utilize our full capacities and capabilities.

China has dictatorship they order and just do it, there is no one to raise a voice.

But in India all the development and defense is hostage to western lobbies.

Even airport, roads and dams of vital importance got delayed fore decades only because of land acquisition, PILs and such protests by puppets of foreign funded organizations.

lol so in other words you wouldnt mind being government's Bi**tch as long as they got a army

 

[RPK]

Protective fencing for safety of Olive Ridley - Times Of India

Protective fencing for safety of Olive Ridley
PTI, Apr 5, 2011, 11.24pm IST

KENDRAPARA: To prevent canine species from perpetrating nuisance, forest officials have put in a protective fencing for the safety of turtles' nests along Gahirmatha nesting ground of these marine animals in Orissa.

Forest personnel are encountering a crisis of a different kind as the Gahirmatha turtles' nesting beach is face to face with "canine" terror.
Hordes of stray dogs from the nearby DRDO's Wheeler's Island defence installation have begun invading the beach threatening the safety of turtles' nests.

To stop them from digging up the nests and eating up the incubating eggs, the marine sanctuary authorities have erected a "protective" fencing along the beach, sources said here.

The prohibited defence territory, home to hundreds of stray dogs, is located in close vicinity of Nasi nesting beach where about 3.62 lakh turtles turned up recently to lay eggs.

"The eggs are now under natural incubation process in the nests. The canine species from the defence site had become a constant source of worry. Safety of eggs was at stake as dogs are adept in digging up the nests and devour the eggs", said Manoj Kumar Mahapatra, Divisional Forest Officer(DFO), Rajnagar Mangrove (wildlife) Forest Officer.

"The forest department had requested the DRDO to stop the canine intrusion into the nesting zone. To ensure the safety of turtles' nests, we have erected fencing on southern parts of the nesting beach to keep the canine species at bay.

The protective barrier, which is serving as a safety ring for nests, would remain intact till the baby turtles break out of eggshells during mid-April," the DFO he said.

To stop the marauding dogs from feasting upon the eggs, forest department guards are maintaining round-the-clock vigil at the nesting ground.

Besides, the turtle protection camp in nearby Babuballi Island is still in operational.

The vigil would continue till the emergence of baby turtles, the DFO said.

 

[tallboy123]

Protective fencing for safety of Olive Ridley - Times Of India

Protective fencing for safety of Olive Ridley
PTI, Apr 5, 2011, 11.24pm IST

KENDRAPARA: To prevent canine species from perpetrating nuisance, forest officials have put in a protective fencing for the safety of turtles' nests along Gahirmatha nesting ground of these marine animals in Orissa.

Forest personnel are encountering a crisis of a different kind as the Gahirmatha turtles' nesting beach is face to face with "canine" terror.
Hordes of stray dogs from the nearby DRDO's Wheeler's Island defence installation have begun invading the beach threatening the safety of turtles' nests.

To stop them from digging up the nests and eating up the incubating eggs, the marine sanctuary authorities have erected a "protective" fencing along the beach, sources said here.

The prohibited defence territory, home to hundreds of stray dogs, is located in close vicinity of Nasi nesting beach where about 3.62 lakh turtles turned up recently to lay eggs.

"The eggs are now under natural incubation process in the nests. The canine species from the defence site had become a constant source of worry. Safety of eggs was at stake as dogs are adept in digging up the nests and devour the eggs", said Manoj Kumar Mahapatra, Divisional Forest Officer(DFO), Rajnagar Mangrove (wildlife) Forest Officer.

"The forest department had requested the DRDO to stop the canine intrusion into the nesting zone. To ensure the safety of turtles' nests, we have erected fencing on southern parts of the nesting beach to keep the canine species at bay.

The protective barrier, which is serving as a safety ring for nests, would remain intact till the baby turtles break out of eggshells during mid-April," the DFO he said.

To stop the marauding dogs from feasting upon the eggs, forest department guards are maintaining round-the-clock vigil at the nesting ground.

Besides, the turtle protection camp in nearby Babuballi Island is still in operational.

The vigil would continue till the emergence of baby turtles, the DFO said.

So the solution has been found

 

[perplexed]

why the hell has this old thread being brought forth ?

 

[RPK]

Military Debris Threaten Oceans

ENVIRONMENT: Military Debris Threaten Oceans - IPS ipsnews.net

A fatally injured olive ridley turtle on Puri Beach, Orissa. The turtles face multiple threats - including missile launches.



India’s armed forces have also destroyed fragile marine habitat and coral ecosystems. In the Bay of Bengal, India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducts missile tests in the middle of a turtle-nesting site within the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary.

"DRDO is not supposed to carry out missile testing during the turtle nesting season. However, they flout this rule despite regular forest department objections," charges Biswajit Mohanty, of the Wildlife Society of Orissa.

"In one recent incident, the missile misfired, resulting in the destruction of the turtle nesting habitat in Nasi Island inside the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary - a breeding ground for olive ridley turtles. The vibration coming from missile launches being almost equal to seismic intensity can have an impact on the fragile eggs, we still don’t know scientifically what happens as an impact on the eggs," Mohanty told IPS. "The DRDO is insensitive that the state’s unique natural heritage - olive ridley turtles - might abandon the nesting grounds if the missile activity disturbs them."

The DRDO "have not disclosed the nature of debris littered in the sea," Mohanty added.

The government response: "DRDO takes due care to avoid any adverse effect on eco-system while planning and conducting missile tests from DRDO ranges. The launching pad has been designed in such a manner that it does not affect the fauna and flora of that area or cause any adverse effect on the environment."

"The flares emanating from missile launch heat the habitat, and disorient the turtles and hatchlings especially when they head to the sea," says a concerned Mohanty.

The DRDO however told IPS that, "All illuminated lights are placed in inverted position with shades and flames coming out of missiles lasting less than a minute, which do not affect the nesting of olive ridley turtles."

The Indian Navy has also chosen the coral island of Netrani on India’s west coast for "target practice," V. N. Nayak, marine biologist at the post graduate centre of Karnatak University in Karwar told IPS. "Netrani Island is home to diverse fauna, enlisted both in the IUCN [International Union for Conservation of Nature] Red Data List and the Indian Wildlife Protection Act’s Schedule One."

Naval exercises are a dire threat to the ecosystem, Nayak said. The large number of bullets, bombs, missiles and torpedoes fired at the endemic wildlife of the island and the seas cause mass mortality of fish and corals in this ecosystem. "Target practice on endangered wildlife is irresponsible," he stressed. "Netrani Island is located under the Coastal Regulatory Zone 4 and fishing zone."

Netrani Island’s fauna includes the white bellied sea eagle, corals, coral fish, whale shark, tiger shark, giant groupers, giant clam, dolphins, sea snakes, crustaceans, reef sharks, stingrays, squid, sea cucumbers olive ridley turtles, jelly fish, sea urchins, killer whales and edible nest swiftlets. The island is the only place outside of the Andaman Nicobar Islands where edible nest swiftlets live.

"Naval firing practices are periodically conducted on a 16-metre barren rock, located close to Netrani Island," the Indian Navy told IPS. "Such firing practices have been conducted for the last six decades." With chances of an outbreak of hostilities stemming from the terrorist attacks in Mumbai "the necessity for the Indian Armed Forces to remain combat-ready... at all times can hardly be over-emphasised. It is precisely this realisation that has already led the Karnataka Biodiversity Board to drop the proposal to consider Netrani Island a Biodiversity Park."

"Who is the enemy for the Indian Navy to bombard unarmed wildlife?" asks K. S. N. Cikkerur, the additional director general of the police forest cell of Karnataka, in Bangalore. Is the enemy the rare "Schedule One species listed in the Wildlife Protection Act?" Cikkerur wonders.