Green turtles return in large numbers
In a promising sign after years of decline, the Sindh Wildlife Department has recorded a significant increase in green turtle nesting along Karachi's coast, placing nearly 30,000 eggs in secure, iron-grilled nests over the past four months (August to November). Around 3,000 hatchlings have already begun their journey into the sea, officials said.
According to Ashfaque Memon, in-charge of the Marine Turtles Unit at Hawkesbay, the department has set a target of 50,000 green turtle eggs for the 2025-26 season. "This year, we are seeing a remarkable improvement. Nearly 30,000 eggs have been collected so far, and thousands of hatchlings have already been released into the sea," he told The Express Tribune.
Memon said that in earlier years, this number was recorded only over an entire nesting season — but the resurgence of mother turtles has renewed hope for conservation efforts.
Return to Karachi's nesting beaches
Mother green turtles continue to arrive under the cover of darkness along the long stretch of the Hawkesbay coast. Wildlife teams ensure complete silence and darkness, as even minor disturbances — such as noise or bright lights — can force the turtles back into deep waters, where many do not survive the return journey.
Once the turtles lay their eggs, staff carefully transfer them to protected hatcheries to safeguard them from predators, poaching and environmental threats.
Green turtles nest not only at Sandspit, Hawkesbay and Paradise Point, but also on various Balochistan beaches including Jiwani, Gwadar, Ormara, Pasni, Dheeran, French Beach, Mubarak Village, Cape Monze and around Charna Island.
Drastic decline in species
Memon noted that until around 2000, seven turtle species were found along the Sindh and Balochistan coasts. Due to marine pollution, commercial activity and recreational disturbances, only **two species** now remain. The olive ridley turtle has become "almost extinct" locally — with no live female recorded on Karachi shores since 2010. Only a few dead specimens have washed ashore in recent years.
Long-running conservation effort
Since 1975, the Sindh Wildlife Department has released nearly 900,000 hatchlings into the sea. Green turtles - found across the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans - typically live up to 70 years, though some reach 100. Each female lays 120-170 eggs per nesting cycle, each similar in size to a table-tennis ball.
However, their survival rate remains critically low. According to IUCN estimates, only 0.1% of hatchlings survive — meaning just one out of every thousand reaches adulthood.
Why turtles matter
Marine biologists warn that turtles are vital for ocean health. They feed on underwater seagrass, preventing it from growing too tall. Without turtles, the unchecked growth of seagrass can choke marine ecosystems by reducing water circulation and oxygen levels.
"This is exactly why global conservation bodies — and the Sindh Wildlife Department — continue their tireless efforts," Memon said.