Rare species of turtles washed ashore

Within a short span of time, three rare species of turtles have been found dead along the coastal areas of Balochistan. The dead turtles include loggerhead, olive ridley, and green turtles—species mentioned on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

According to reports from local fishermen and environmental experts, the dead turtles were discovered over a 20-day period, particularly along Gwadar's west bay. Initial findings suggest that the turtles died after becoming entangled in fishing nets.

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Pakistan has expressed serious concern over the incident. Previous WWF research identified the loggerhead turtle as one of the rarest species in the region, having been sighted only 12 times over the past 40 years. While globally classified as threatened by the IUCN, the species is considered nearly extinct at the national level in Pakistan.

Green turtles, which regularly visit selected sandy beaches along Pakistan's coastline for nesting, also face significant threats despite ongoing conservation efforts. WWF-Pakistan has long been working on their protection, but their population remains at risk.

The olive ridley turtle, once the most common species nesting along Pakistan's coast, has not had any recorded nesting activity since 1990. As a deep-sea species, it is particularly vulnerable to entanglement in fishing gear.

WWF-Pakistan launched a deep-sea fishing monitoring programme in 2012, which included training fishermen on safely releasing trapped marine life. As a result, over 50,000 sea turtles and other marine species have been successfully released back into the ocean after being caught in nets.

WWF-Pakistan Technical Advisor Muhammad Moazzam Khan described the recent deaths as alarming, emphasising that all sea turtle species are facing serious threats. He stressed the urgent need to raise awareness among fishermen and the public regarding marine conservation.

The incident has raised serious concerns and is being seen as a major setback for ongoing conservation efforts by government and environmental organisations.