Amaravati, January 24, 2026: Nearly 150 olive ridley sea turtles were found dead along the beaches of Dokulapadu in Vajrapukotturu mandal, Srikakulam district, in recent days.
The discoveries come amid the December-January nesting season, when these endangered turtles arrive along Andhra Pradesh's coast to lay eggs.
Locals and conservation groups point to squid nets used in fishing and rising plastic pollution in the sea as likely causes, leading to entanglement and drowning.
The Forest department carries out regular protection measures during this period, but the scale of this incident has drawn fresh attention. A local organisation, Sneha Kalamandali, has taken responsibility for burying the carcasses near the shore to prevent health risks.
