Olive Ridley sea turtles
News & updates
Press coverage and updates about the turtles of Tonka Beach since 2023.
Latest news
Prajavani
181 hatchlings reach the sea at Kasarkod Tonka
Hundreds of hatchlings emerged and reached the sea at Tonka beach, even as the dispute over port construction continued.
Kannada Prabha
180 Olive Ridley hatchlings near the disputed port site
Two nests laid on 10 January (Vaikuntha Ekadashi) near the proposed port site hatched on 27 and 28 February, with 180 hatchlings.
Nudijenu
Hatchlings reach the sea at Tonka
Local fishermen leaders Rajesh Tandel, Ramesh Tandel and Bhaskar Tandel found 124 eggs. With the Forest Department they moved them to a safe spot and fenced them against dogs and birds.
Karavali Munjavu
95 hatchlings released
Forest staff led by Deputy Range Forest Officer Manjunath Naik released 95 hatchlings with the support of Honavar Foundation, fishermen leaders and local people.
Prajavani
Port preparations at the turtles' nesting ground
A report on endangered turtles nesting at Tonka while preparations for the port continue, quoting Honavar Foundation on the need to protect this sensitive coast.
The New Indian Express
Setting turtles free
Forest officers, fishermen and members of Honavar Foundation released Olive Ridley hatchlings at Tonka beach.
The Hindu
95 Olive Ridley hatchlings released into the sea in Honavar
As many as 95 hatchlings were released into the Arabian Sea at Tonka beach.
Prajavani
Sea turtle eggs protected
Forest officials inspected turtle tracks and eggs. Science writer Nagesh Hegde and marine scientist Dr Prakash Mesta visited the nest. Honavar Foundation volunteers and local fishermen helped protect it.
Karavali Munjavu
Sea turtle eggs found at Tonka
Hundreds of eggs were found on the Kasarkod beach. The Forest Department located and protected the nest after fishermen alerted them.
Asianet Suvarna News
Turtle rehabilitation and conservation centre planned
The state plans to microchip some sea turtles and build a rehabilitation and conservation centre at Hiregutti. Note: Hiregutti is about 44 km from Honavar.
Local press
Tonka fishermen's issue at a global forum
The Tonka fishing community's story was presented at an international conference on local environmental freedom, held in Geneva by the Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy with IIM Bangalore.
Local press
A student's study of Tonka's sea turtles
Deepsika Srinivas, a Class 9 student from Bengaluru, presented her study of the sea turtles of Tonka beach at a national science workshop.
Local press
Dead Olive Ridley and green turtles found
Two decomposed turtles, an Olive Ridley and a green turtle, were found in the Tonka nesting area. Forest staff, fishermen, marine scientist Prakash Mesta and students gave them a last rite.
Honavar Foundation
Google Maps labels the Tonka foot road 'Olive Ridley Turtle Road'
The footpath along the Kasarkod Tonka shore appeared on Google Maps under this name.
Deccan Herald
700 sea turtle eggs destroyed by feral dogs in Kasarkod Tonka
Stray dogs dug up and destroyed about 700 eggs on the nesting beach.
Deccan Herald
Kasarkod Tonka tense as fishermen oppose road work near nesting site
Local fishermen protested against road work close to the turtle nesting site.
Deccan Herald
Turtle alarm after road asphalting is approved
Experts and activists objected to blacktopping the kaccha road on the beach, warning it signalled the start of port construction.
Honavar Foundation
NGT issues judgement
The National Green Tribunal's judgement of 26 September 2023 addressed the proposed 4 km port road under the Bharatmala scheme, its CRZ status and its impact on turtle nesting at Kasarkod beach.
Honavar Foundation
Port department seeks CRZ permission for a blacktop road
After the NGT denied a four-lane road on the beach, an application for a single-lane blacktop road was placed before the Coastal Zone Management Authority.
Honavar Foundation
Environmental clearance for the port extended again
The state environment impact assessment authority extended the port's environmental clearance by another year.
Deccan Herald
Kasarkod fisherfolk ask central committee to stop the port project
Fishing families appealed to a central committee.
Honavar Foundation
Fishermen protest an un-notified CRZ visit
Coastal Regulation Zone officials visited Tonka beach without informing the fishermen or their lawyers.
Honavar Foundation
NGT reserves judgement
The National Green Tribunal heard the case and reserved its judgement.
Deccan Herald
The more the merrier: Olive Ridleys bring cheer
A report on the nesting boost at Tonka beach.
Honavar Foundation
Season's 35th nest discovered
Local fishermen found the 35th Olive Ridley nest of the 2022 to 2023 season.
Honavar Foundation
96 hatchlings released on Holi
Fishermen at Tonka released 96 hatchlings into the Arabian Sea on Holi, with the Gram Panchayat president and Fisheries Department staff present.
Honavar Foundation
Over 4,000 eggs conserved
Since December 2022 more than 34 nests with over 4,000 eggs had been identified and fenced by the Forest Department with the fishing community.
Deccan Herald
Olive Ridley nests give hope to fishermen at Honavar beach
Activists and experts released photos of nests across the beach.
The Hindu
Olive Ridley hatchlings released into the sea at Honavar
The first hatchlings of the season were released at Tonka, protected by fishermen led by Rajesh Tandel and Ramesh Tandel.
Headlines from Kannada newspapers are summarised in English. Follow new updates on the Honavar Foundation WhatsApp channel ↗.
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