A couple of nights ago (on Thursday, to be precise) a huge mass was washed up on Juhu beach. The late night joggers got curious and went over to explore… It was a whale – 40 feet long.
Since mid 2015, such whale beaching incidents have become alarmingly common. Not ten days ago, around 50 Olive Ridley turtles’ carcasses were found ashore the Puri beach in Tamil Nadu too.
And no matter what the reason, turtle species with names like Olive Ridley must NEVER die like that. NO sea creature must die like that.
Why is this happening
It’s not news to you when I say that we are the reason. Humans, their needs and their greed – these are the chief contributing factors to the silent underwater mass murders. Since lists seem so popular these days, let me jot down some points for you.
- Water Pollution is the generic textbook answer. Every oil spillage, every toxin released into the sea, and even the disgust you dispose on the beach is leading to the death of a fish you will not pay to eat.
- Illegal fishing is rampantly practiced in regions where fishing is banned. For example, the 150 turtles that washed ashore Puri beach in Tamil Nadu last month were suspected to have all died due to injury caused from trawlers and fishing nets of fishermen who were present in their mating regions illegally.
- Fatal sounds. Recently, theories suggesting the involvement of (too) powerful SONAR rays in deaths of whales and other deep sea creatures have emerged. Well, we were trying to “find out” what’s down there… So they decided to show up by themselves!
- Other stupid reasons include physically harming the swimmers by our cruise ships. Do you realize how many get injured if they accidentally come in contact with the propellers of the giant ships?
These reasons are labeled stupid because they seem very unnecessary to be as common as they are. Just like the humans causing them.
It is very abnormal for animals like whales to be present in shallow waters near beaches. But more than that, for them to never be able to return because of the human craze for materialism is upsetting, to say the least.
What we are doing about this
We are posing with the nature’s wonders and teaching our kids how to deal with disasters.
We are expressing our “concern” about their death on social media.
And then there are some who are trying very hard to help, doing real work… Trying to return any possible survivors back to the sea.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_t6wdPVXaPc
Trying to catch the authorities’ attention with regard to this matter.
What are you doing about it?
Other such incidents…
In reverse chronological order, this year…
- Jan 29th, 2016: A Olive Ridley turtle with chopped flippers found ashore Panaiyur, T.N.
- Jan 27th, 2016: A Bryde’s whale carcass found at Juhu beach
- Jan 21st, 2016: 45 dead Olive Ridley turtles’ carcasses wash onto Puri beach, T.N.
- Jan 12th, 2016: 45 whales die on Tiruchendur coast, T.N. Some were safely returned to the water.
The situation is bad…
If this continues, by the end of next decade the total mass of waste in the water bodies will exceed that of living fish.
The death rate has boomed for every animal living under the sea.
Wondering how to help? For one, cancel that luxury cruise you were planning. Then, if you really care, join some volunteer services that monitor the fishing practices along coasts.
Tell us in the comments section below how else one can help these poor souls from suffering a fate they don’t deserve.
