Coast Guard 'rescue' endangered Olive Ridley turtle

The Indian Coast Guard carried out a unique rescue operation on Sunday, freeing a trapped Olive Ridley turtle near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

A patrol ship in the sea off Andaman and Nicobar Islands found an Olive Ridley turtle entangled in a fishing net.

The coast guard crew on board rescued the turtle and handed it over to the Forest Department in Port Blair.

The Olive Ridley sea turtle has been placed under the red list of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), as it is considered vulnerable world-wide and endangered in India.

These turtles are considered endangered because of their few remaining nesting sites in the world.

It has been listed on Schedule - I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, which means hurting or killing any animal in this list would result in highest prescribed penalties.

--IANS

ao/him/vd