Online edition of Daily News

Call it their little 'survival kit'. A gift of nature to help turtle hatchlings in their first scramble to water and their first few days at a sea.

The 'survival kit' in the form of a little `yoke sack' which contains enough nutritional reserve for their first few days at sea.

For after emerging from the nest they must literally run the gauntlet in their first dash to the sea and then face a perilous struggle to survive to adulthood.

Starting life without the advantages of 'parental nurturing ' that fosters many young animals and birds in the wild, turtle hatchlings, fight a lone battle and face an army of predators. Besides man, they face a serious threat from nest robbers including ghost crabs, dogs, wild boar and even various sea birds. Those who are lucky enough to evade these predators and reach the sea, then face an onslaught of sharks and large fish. The life of a young turtle is not easy !

The best scientific estimates available indicate that only one in 1,000 to 10,000 hatchlings will survive (anywhere from 12-50 years) to become a reproducing and nesting adult sea turtle.

But, recent research indicates that the large number of turtle hatcheries and conservation projects that has cropped up in Sri Lanka in the last few years, without due scientific planning might be detrimental to genuine efforts to conserve turtle populations.

Baby turtles are born with a 'yoke sack' which contains vital nutrition. The yoke sack disappears after 48 hours. So, hatchlings who see the world with the help of human interactions- and end up in tanks and hatcheries for days- loose this pouch or their 'survival kit', before they reach the sea.

"In most cases these hatchlings are kept for long periods in tanks to allow visitors and foreigners to release them for a small fee. But the whole exercise is futile if the turtles are released after the yoke sack disappears," says Anouk Illangakoon, a leading Environmental scientist who has been conducting research on turtles for over eight years.

Of the seven species of turtles found in the world, five come ashore on Sri Lankan beaches to lay their eggs but research by scientists indicate that these species are threatened heavily in Sri Lanka as in many parts of the world. This is despite both local and international conventions prohibiting hunting, capturing or egg collection of turtles .

Visitors releasing hatchlings from a turtle hatchery.

Illangakoon says that in the course of her research, she has also come across numerous instances where hatchlings have been kept inside dirty tanks for weeks, awaiting freedom.

"It's a lucrative trade. A popular tourist attraction especially in the southern coastal belt of the country. But, this process can be extremely detrimental. It can drastically effect total populations if there is no monitoring to ensure that these hatchlings are released within 48 hours," she points out. Illangakoon was also of the view that most visitors including foreigners are not aware of these circumstances and see these hatcheries as cause deserving support.

"All turtle hatchlings farms and projects do not fall into the same category and some have been genuinely established to address conservation needs but most hatcheries are just money making exercises without due scientific planning, leave alone conservation,"she said.

Illangakoon cited the popularisation of eco-tourism as another key issue for more turtle farms to spring up in Sri Lanka but warned that measures must be taken without further delay to ensure checks and scientific planning.

Many countries have similar hatcheries/ conservation projects and eco-tourism promotion initiatives aimed at conserving turtle populations. But, it has to be conducted in a manner to ensure that their survival is not endangered in the process," she pointed out.

Illangakoon reiterated that only direct intervention will save these endangered creatures. Hatcheries are used as key turtle management programs across the world, but they have to be effective to serve the purpose they lobby, she said.

Wild Life Department Director Dayananda Kariyawasam when contacted by the 'Daily News' said the Department is in the process of establishing special turtle nestling sites, in coastal areas to ensure the protection of turtles and encourage breeding habitats.

A pilot project has already begun within a 3 km protected beach area in Bundala, where several species of turtles have already been provided with a safe environment conducive for breeding. The department will deploy staff to monitor and regulate the declared 'nestling sites' to increase their chances of survival and minimise threats. The department feels that this will go a long way in ensuring that the hatchlings can then make their journey to the sea without any interference by humans or other predators.

* According to the International Union for the Conservation of nature (IUCN) all species of turtles are considered threatened or endangered. The Leatherback turtle in particular.

* In many areas turtle meat and eggs are utilised for food, the oils are used in the cosmetic industry and for medication, and the shells are used for ornaments and jewellery. Moreover, many turtles are accidentally killed each year by drowning in trawl nets or become entangled in set nets. They also fall victim to bits of plastic debris, which if mistaken for food can fatally block the breathing and digestive passages. Fully grown turtles have few natural enemies. But sometimes they are attacked by sharks and killer whales.

* Female turtles usually lays several batches of eggs at 2-3 week intervals. A hole is excavated with the hind flippers and about 50-150 eggs are deposited. They are immediately covered with a layer of sand. But, mortality of the egg and hatchlings is extremely heavy.

* Most males also spend most of the lives at sea. Numbers are determined from the number of females that come ashore.

* All turtles return to the same hatching site. How they manage such extraordinary feats of navigation is yet to be determined.

The chair bear

While filming in Sri Lanka, it wasn’t the leopard which turned Gordon into a quivering scaredy cat.

A year and a half in Sri Lanka filming leopards? It seemed like an opportunity not to be missed... until I discovered that no one had ever made a film on wild leopards outside Africa. I wondered if it was possible to make a one-hour documentary on an animal that even the best trackers see only on very rare occasions.

The lure of life in the jungle soon got the better of me. Sleeping in the hollow trunks of trees, licking moisture off leaves, surviving on meals of grubs, using the reflection in a corc's eye as a shaving mirror... Not quite. 'Camp', as it turned out, was a four-star hotel.

I soon discovered that, what I had gained in fresh towels and hot water, I lacked in leopards. Weeks passed with only glimpses of these elusive animals. To have a fighting chance, I would have to locate fresh leopard kills and sit it out in a hide. Six weeks into the trip, we found the drag marks of a leopard kill and headed into the forest. It wasn't long before KG, my right-hand man, found the kill - a fully-grown, male spotted deer. We left the area, returning with my hide, film camera and infrared kit.

Leap of faith. One glance at this footage, and you can understand why Gordon Buchanan might have feared for his life. But it wasn’t a leopard that caused him to shake uncontrollably in a corner of his hide.

Soon after sunset, the forest that I had found peaceful and cheering by day became intimidating and eerie. I was glad of the company when a mother leopard and cub silently appeared on my infrared monitor and began to feed. But my pleasure turned almost instantly to barely controlled terror when, from behind the hide, there came an unearthly sound. If you can imagine a combined roar, growl, wail, scream and snarl, all at maximum volume, you're half way there. I knew exactly what it was, thought this knowledge only made me cower even more feebly.

The beast, one that is responsible for some of the most horrific human mutilations, does not, however, have a name that properly reflects the threat it poses - the sloth bear.

It was difficult to make out exactly how far away the bear was, but after a few minutes, I heard its unmistakable snuffling and the clatter of its claws on the rocks as it moved closer. If you're wondering what makes sloth bears so dangerous, it is an unpredictable character, as well as natural curiosit, and short-sightedness. Imagine Mr. Magoo wish the temper of a wasp and the jaws of a lion.

I swung the infrared camera around to get the bear in frame, but he was too close, a point which was rammed home to me when a huge shout pecked through a gap in the corner of the hide. I grabbed my spotlight and flashed it about frantically. The bear simply moved off. Dropping the spotlight, I reframed the camera in time to see the bear sit down in front of the hissing mother leopard.

I got ready to pan the camera and film the leopard as she fled. But just as the bear was about to grab the carcass, the leopard leapt at it, lashing out with her claws. I was totally stunned not only was this completely unexpected behaviour, but I had also captured the entire event on film.

The cub fed with its mother, then they both ambled off. Within minutes the bear was back, this time with reinforcements. One bear led as another skirted around the back of the hide. Keeling exceptionally unsafe, I let the bear food for 10 minutes, then radioed for someone to come and get me.

Early the next morning, I made my way back with KG. As we drove along, I spotted something odd in the track. It was the folding chair I use when filming and, looking down, I saw a set of bear tracks coming from the direction of the hide, while the teeth marks on the chair confirmed that, in lieu of any actor's fee, the bear had claimed my seat as its own. I had a clear memory of fastening the hide shut before leaving (with the chair inside), and we cautiously went to investigate, very of finding a bear. What had previously been the front of a perfectly good hide now had an odd shaped hole, which looked as thought it had beer made by a bear leaving with a chair in its mouth - which must be exactly what happened. (BBC wildlife)

At present we read various articles about acute "Air pollution" in your daily papers due to fuel emissions from vehicles. The main culprit being Diesel fuel used in improperly tuned engines. The authorities concerned must set up standards for emission control in all vehicles including Petrol. In countries like UK all vehicles must produce an "Emission Control Test Report" prior to obtaining their yearly Revenue Tax plate.

Modern cars today, use Non-leaded Petrol and also Catalytic converters to reduce/avoid air pollution. It is high time that Ministry of Health, Transport and Environment, promote these methods to control air pollution. Sooner we start the better. According to my knowledge most Petrol engines can be tuned to use Non Leaded Petrol.

Non-Leaded Petrol is sold cheaper, than leaded-petrol, all over the world. However in Sri Lanka it is more expensive than normal leaded-petrol. It is not adequately distributed in the country either. For example in the United Kingdom Non-leaded petrol is about 12 pence cheaper per litre, than normal petrol, and all measures are taken to make it popular to avoid air pollution. It is also available in each and every, petrol station in the country.

Therefore it is the duty of the Ministries concerned, to exercise strict regulations, over "Emission control methods" and it is the duty of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation to advice the users, and popularizes the use of Non-leaded grade of Petrol and make it available all over the country.

I also note that the few Petrol Sheds that serve Non-leaded Petrol do not have the correct nossels to deliver it. The cars that use Non-leaded Petrol have a restricted tank inlet to avoid accidental filling of normal Petrol.

We hope the New Chairman of the Petroleum Corporation will also make his contribution to a cleaner environment by promoting the use of Non-leaded Petrol.