A total of 11 mother sea turtles have washed ashore on the beach of St Martin’s Island in Teknaf over the course of December, with eight found dead and three rescued alive, local sources said.
The live turtles have been placed under safe conservation, while the dead ones were recovered from different points along the island’s shoreline during the month.
Locals said several of the dead turtles bore visible injury marks, leading to initial suspicions that they may have been harmed by illegal fishing nets, boat propellers or rough marine conditions before drifting ashore and dying.
St Martin’s environmental activist Abdul Aziz said December to March marks the breeding and egg-laying season for sea turtles, during which mother turtles come closer to the coast.
“Every year many turtles die due to illegal fishing nets and the uncontrolled movement of boats during this critical period,” he said.
He added that since early December, eight dead mother turtles were recovered at intervals of one or two days from different sandbanks of the island and were later buried following health guidelines, while three rescued turtles remain under protection.
President of Cox’s Bazar district unit of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon, H M Ershad, said regular patrolling, rapid rescue efforts and increased awareness among local people are crucial to protecting sea turtles along coastal areas, including St Martin’s.
“Otherwise, the long-term survival of this endangered species will face serious threats,” he said.
Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Emamul Hafiz Nadim said the administration is aware of the incidents of dead and live turtles washing ashore at St Martin’s beach.
“The rescued mother turtles have been kept in safe locations and their physical condition is being regularly monitored through the concerned departments,” he said.
He added that once the turtles recover fully, they will be released back into the deep sea, while the dead turtles have already been buried in line with health protocols.
