Carcasses of 6 olive ridleys wash ashore in Canacona last week

Canacona: Carcasses of six olive ridley turtles were washed ashore on different beaches of Canacona, between Jan 13 and 16. Some appeared to be recent deaths, while the other carcasses were in highly decomposed state.The lifeguards were told about the carcasses by NGOs.The first turtle carcass washed ashore on Jan 13 at Polem beach, followed by a highly decomposed carcass on the Talpona shore on the following day. On Jan 15, a dead turtle washed ashore at Talpona, and another washed ashore in a highly decomposed state at Patnem.On Friday, two dead turtles washed ashore, including one on Rajbagh beach.South marine range forest officer Rajesh Naik said that around the new moon phase, the current is stronger than usual during high tides, hence more things tend to get washed ashore.

He said that the turtles may have died earlier but were washed ashore only now on consecutive days due to strong high tides.Naik said the reasons for their deaths could be different and he would not be able to ascertain the reasons.The Reefwatch veterinary team, Benaulim, conducted an autopsy on the dead turtles, and later the forest department staff buried them on one side of the beach, where they had washed ashore, said a forest department official.