KARACHI, Aug 16: There is no direct threat to breeding grounds and habitat of turtles found off the coast of Karachi, from oil spill, says an official of Sindh Wildlife Department (SWD), adding the flow of oil has not been witnessed west of Manora, where main turtle population is found.

Karachi is one of eleven places in the world where Green Turtle make their nests, but despite being threatened with extinction no department has extended help to the SWD in protecting Green and Olive turtles, which lay eggs at Karachi beaches, while, the WWF-Pakistan also has a turtle protection project, based at its wetland centre at Sandspit.

According to Fehmida Firdous, Deputy Conservator and in charge of the Turtle Conservation Project, SWD, main breeding grounds of green and olive turtles in Karachi spread over a large area at Sandspit and some parts of Cape Monze and Balochistan.

However, due to direction of sea current the crude oil was flowing eastwards from harbour area, and was directly hitting the Clifton beach and gradually moving eastward, she said.

Ms Fehmida, along with a research officer, Adnan, who visited various affected areas, informed that the three hatcheries of about 200 sq yards, situated at Sandspit and Hawkesbay, were safe from oil spill.

“Turtles are not found east of Manora, mainly due to unfriendly beach and heavy movement of humans at sea and on the beach, and the added pollution that extends up to Ibrahim Hydery,” She said.

The SWD had been maintaining three turtle hatcheries at Sandspit for the last 20 years, since the conservation project was launched in the early 80s.

Sea turtle populations have been seriously reduced world-wide due to a number of human influences. Development in the coastal areas has also reduced natural nesting habitats of turtles. Capture of adult turtles for eggs, meat, leather, and shells has decreased turtle breeding.

Wildlife authorities are worried about the situation as main egg laying season for turtles starts from next month, where a female turtle lays about 100 (sometimes more), about 2 inches dia eggs, after digging a three feet deep pit and covering the eggs with sand.—PPI