Sahyadri Nisarg Mitra, Chiplun is organising Turtle Festival from 10th to 28th March 2010 at Velas, Taluka Mandangad, District Ratnagiri in coordination with the Kasav Mitra Mandal, Velas, Gram Panchayat, Velas and the Forest Department.
The main purpose behind arranging this festival is to convey our 7 years old Turtle Protection and Conservation Project to distant places, to get more and more participation of the locals in it, to develop ecotourism / nature peregrination with which an income source can be created for the locals.
Marine Turtles are under threat throughout the world. They are extincting year by year. Large scale fishing business, increasing marine pollution, killing of turtle for food, poaching of eggs are affecting the turtle's growth adversely.
The Turtle needs to be protected taking into account it's importance. By this perception Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra has started project of Marine Turtle Protection and Conservation at Velas village 7 years ago and elaborated on whole coastal area of Maharashtra during last 7 years. We have succeeded in releasing more than 25000 hatchlings into the sea safely from 530 nests during last seven years. This project is now stands implemented at 30 villages on coastal area of Maharashtra. We have fixed such places for our project where nesting is occurred very often. Velas holds the dignity every year since beginning. Hence we have decided to celebrate the success by arranging Turtle Festival every year at Velas. Such festival will be held as mentioned hitherto this year.
The hatchlings are heading towards sea from the shore now a days. There is a possibility of emergence of the hatchlings from sandy nests on these festival days i.e. 10th to 28th March 2010 to watch them moving towards sea and with this point of view these 19 days are set for Turtle Festival. One can arrive at Velas to participate in the Festival at his/her convenient. The dates on which the hatchlings could be viewed may be referred on our website - www.snmcpn.org . There will be every possibility of emergence of hatchlings all these day.
We shall keep declaring the emergence of hatchlings / relevant information daily twice on our website : www.snmcpn.org and blog - http://snmcpn.blogspot.com which can be referred. Once hatchlings start emerging from nest, it will be emerged on 2 consequent days while you can observe them. You may contact any person listed on our aforesaid blog to ensure your arrival, period of stay, number of accompanying persons etc.. Please be present at the sea-shore at 7 o'clock in the morning and 6 o'clock in the evening. You may find there our volunteers releasing the hatchlings (if emerged) into the sea, from whom any additional information can be had.
The Ecology, Exploitation and Conservation of River Turtles (Enviromental Science)
Please make it convenient to visit Marine Turtle Knowledge Information Centre as well as Marine Turtle Research, Conservation Centre to get more information. Kindly donate generously, purchase various items and leave in time for return journey.
The native place of the great diplomat the late Nana Phadanvis and his monument which the famed Velas, the prosporous nature at Harihareshwar, Kelshi, the creek and Himmatgad of Bankot, the tomb of wife of British officer Aurther at the fort can also be visited during the festival days. You can carry your vehicles through the ferry boats plying across the Bankot creek while traveling to Harihareshwar from Bankot Vesvi.
The homely arrangements of dwelling and boarding for the tourists arriving for the festival will be made by the Kasav Mitra Mandal, Velas. Rs. 225/- are charged per head per day towards accommodation at Velas for visitors. A simple collective homely stay (no, separate rooms), simple vegetarian lunch and dinner, breakfast once, and tea thrice a day are included this accommodation. No, facility of mattresses, but Satranji's (Carpets) will be available.
Kindly contact the following person for more information.
1) Mr. Kamalakar Bendke - 9226725050
2) Mr. Uday Pandit - 9423047700
3) Office - 02355 - 253030
Mr. Jayant Kanade, President of SNM appeals everybody to attend this programme.
The Man Who Saved Sea Turtles: Archie Carr and the Origins of Conservation Biology
Biology and Conservation of Sea Turtles
Biology and Conservation of Ridley Sea Turtles
Sea Turtles: Natural History and Conservation
A Global Strategy for the Conservation of Marine Turtles
A marine turtle conservation strategy and action plan for the western Indian Ocean (IUCN conservation library)
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