Turtles Return To ‘Filthy to Fabulous’ Beach After 20 Years
If indiscriminate human actions are ruining life on planet, then corrective actions like the world’s longest beach cleanup in Versova, Mumbai, are also giving hope of recovery. Nature had a surprise in store and it coincided with the World Water Day. On March 22 this year, as the volunteers at the Versova beach were engaged in their normal cleanup drive, they spotted hatchling of a species and notified the state forest department.
The officials confirmed that the hatchlings were Olive Ridley turtles and that they have returned here after 20 years. Lawyer turned beach cleanup activist, Afroz Shah, who’s been spearheading the Versova cleanup for a record 127 weeks, shared the news on social media:
“Fantastic news for Mumbai. We got back Olive Ridley Sea Turtle after 20 years. Historic moment nested and hatched at our beach. We facilitate their journey to ocean. Constant cleaning helps marine species. Marine conservation centre needed at Versova beach.”
He further added, “Olive Ridley sea turtles are extremely precious species and if they have returned to the beach it is an indication that our eco-system has regenerated. Versova beach, which was once filthy and full of dirt, has now been cleaned and thus the mammals also want to come.”
80 of those hatchlings made an appearance from a 3-feet deep pit, marching safe and sound to the sea; meanwhile covering their 30–35 meters long journey down the shoreline.
Afroz had initiated the mega Verosva cleanup drive in October 2015. So far he and his team of 1200 volunteers have cleaned up over 9 million tonnes of garbage from the beach, making it one of the biggest beach cleanup exercises in the world.
The UN has also recognized Shah’s volunteer work. Last year, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) awarded him the Champion of the Earth award for his work in organizing community-led clean-up efforts.
According to the UNEP, 13 million tons of plastic waste finds its way to the world’s oceans every year, which is equivalent to dumping two garbage trucks of plastic waste into the ocean every minute.
It poses a threat not just to marine wildlife and ecosystems but also to humans, as some marine litter makes its way into the diet in the form of fish or seabirds.
This is a big moment in the long timeline of the Versova beach cleanup. After all the recognition and the accolades that the cleanup drive and the man behind it all — Afroz Shah have got, the return of the Olive Ridleys is nature’s way of acknowledging this herculean effort and gives hope for the future. In his reaction to this news Head of United Nations Environment Programme, Erik Solheim sums it up well, “The cleaner our beaches, the more life will thrive!”
Watch a video on the turtle spotting at Versova beach below
Ketto & the Environment
Since its inception, Ketto has been a strong advocate of environmental sustainability in this country. Click on the links below to view crowdfunding projects it has been involved with for conservation efforts. If you feel inspired, you can perhaps start your own project with Ketto as well.
Ketto Blog remains committed to inspiring and compelling social change to India’s most pressing problems through the power of great stories and engaging our audiences to take meaningful action.
