Marine Turtles Key To Oceans, Must Be Protected: Conservationist Vishwas Katdare
Although the turtle population has seen significant growth due to conservation efforts, global warming continues to be a major threat to their survival, he says
Marine turtles play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems; therefore, increasing their population is imperative. Everyone must contribute to this conservation effort. Visiting and understanding our coastal areas is essential, as collective effort is key to the success of this mission," said Vishwas Katdare, Founder of Sahyadri Nisarg Mitra, during a seminar at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya in Mumbai.
He has been dedicated to the conservation of marine turtles along the Konkan coast of Maharashtra for over two decades. Under his leadership, Sahyadri Nisarg Mitra has achieved remarkable success in protecting Olive Ridley turtles.
Sahyadri Nisarg Mitra began its turtle conservation efforts in 2003. Despite facing several initial challenges, the initiative gained momentum. Since 2014, with support from the Forest Department, Mangrove Cell, and Mangrove Foundation, the project has expanded significantly. Katdare shared that while initially there were only six turtle nests on the Guhagar beach in Konkan, the number has now grown to over 350 due to continued conservation efforts.
Initially, the local communities were hesitant to engage. However, repeated visits and interactions along the coastline helped build trust and eventually led to strong local participation in the initiative.
To track turtle movement, the team tagged their shells. These efforts revealed that turtles from the Konkan coast travel through the Arabian Sea to regions like Gujarat, Odisha, and even Sri Lanka. In February this year, around 700,000 turtles were recorded arriving on the Odisha coast in just one week. Remarkably, one tagged turtle that had made this journey returned to Guhagar beach—having travelled an astonishing 3,500 km. This rare migratory behaviour has sparked interest and research among experts worldwide.
Although the turtle population has seen significant growth due to conservation efforts, global warming continues to be a major threat to their survival, Katdare concluded.
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