Sri Lanka and India have joined hands for a collaborative turtle conservation project in Northern Indian Ocean.

This project has been initiated to understand the complex migration patterns of sea turtles in the Northern Indian Ocean. The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and Orissa Forest Departments (OFD) are part of this collaborative sea turtle conservation project, The Hindu reported.

Under this project five satellite transmitters were fitted on the backs of Olive Ridley and Green sea turtles on the South East coast of Sri Lanka from February 1 to February 21.

These turtles were satellite tagged in the Bundala National Park, Rekawa sanctuary and Kosgada protected areas of Sri Lanka.
This venture to study life and habitat of endangered marine turtles has been sponsored by the Indian Government.

The project leader Prof. B.C.Choudhury of WII said as per the data received from the earlier satellite tracking project conducted by the WII and OFD on Olive Ridley turtles that come to nest at places on Orissa coast, the turtles were tracked down at places 1000 kilometer south of Sri Lankan coast, The Hindu report added.
Olive Ridley’s fitted with satellite transmitters during January 2009 at Orissa coast migrated south eastern coast of Sri Lanka by May and June 2009.

After staying there for two to three months they once again entered Bay of Bengal. They reached Orissa coast again by September 2009. These turtles are waiting in Bay of Bengal near Orissa coast for nesting, Prof. Choudhury said.

To extend this tracking of endangered Olive Ridleys, the Ministry of Environment and Forest of Central government and the Director General, Wildlife Conservation of Sri Lanka preferred to get together.

A team from the WII-OFD research project reached Sri Lanka under the leadership of Prof. Choudhury, the report said.
Apart from fitting satellite transmitters the Indian team of sea turtle researchers along with some Sri Lankan sea turtle biologist also conducted a training programme on sea turtle biology, conservation and management for the wildlife managers of Sri Lanka.