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August, 2004
Save the Turtle Project
WWF-Pakistan in collaboration
with ICI Pakistan and City District
Government Karachi, Environmental
Education Unit organised a beach-cleaning
event at the turtle nesting beach
in Sandspit to mark the SAVE THE
TURTLE PROJECT supported by ICI
Pakistan. More than 200 students,
teachers, Sandspit community members
and representatives of ICI Pakistan,
Sindh Wildlife Department and WWF-Pakistan
participated in the activity. A
total of 147 bags of garbage were
collected from a one and half km
stretch of Sandspit turtle beach.
Mr. Jonathan R. Stoney,
Chief Executive ICI Pakistan and
Mr. Jehangir Bashir Nawaz, General
Manager ICI Pakistan inaugurated
the beach cleaning programme by
releasing turtle hatchlings into
sea. Sandspit is the nesting ground
for the globally endangered species
of Green and Olive Ridley turtles.
The beach is frequented
by large number of visitors and
they litter the beach with garbage
that disturbs the turtles coming
to the beach in the egg laying season
from August to December. Solid waste,
especially plastic bags pose a great
threat since the turtles mistake
the plastic for jellyfish, which
they feed on. WWF-Pakistan routinely
organises Beach Cleaning activities
at the Sandspit Turtle Beach in
the turtle nesting season. Goodwill
Ambassador of WWF-Pakistan, Ms.
Marina Khan was also present at
the occasion to encourage the students
from various Government Schools.
Mr. Liaquat Siddiq,
Manager Communications ICI Pakistan,
asked students to serve as the ambassadors
of nature and spread the message
of turtle conservation beyond their
schools.
Dr. Ejaz Ahmed, Deputy
Director General of WWF-Pakistan
highlighted the importance of clean
beaches in sustaining marine life.
Mrs. Nuzhat Siddiqui,
of the Environmental Education Unit,
City District Government Karachi,
thanked ICI and WWF-Pakistan for
arranging activities for the CDGK
Schools.
Background
information:
Save the Turtles Project
INTRODUCTION:
Marine turtles are a species of
special concern included in the
WWF-Pakistan strategic plan. Globally
there are eight species of marine
turtles and are all classified as
endangered. The Green Turtle (Chelonia
mydas) and the Olive Ridley Turtle
(Lepidochelys olivacea) are two
species of marine turtles that nest
along the Sandspit and Hawkesbay
beaches at the Karachi coast. All
species of marine turtles are listed
in the Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
Pakistan is a signatory to CITES,
that prohibits trade in turtles,
turtle parts and eggs. The Government
of Sindh has declared the Marine
Turtle a ‘protected’
species.
for further
information contact:
Shameer Ali Prasla
Environmental Education & Communication
Officer
WWF - Pakistan
Regional Conservation Office
Room 606-607, Fortune Centre
Floor 6, Block 6, PECHS
Shahrae Faisal
Karachi
Ph: 92-21-4544 791/92
Fax: 92-21-4544790
shameerwwf@yahoo.com
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