International Union for Conservation of Nature

Threats to turtle population along the

coast of Balochistan

Asghar Shah

District Coordinator Gwader

IUCN- Pakistan

International Union for Conservation of Nature

Presentation Outline Out look

• Coastal Line of Balochistan

• Reported Nesting Sites of Marine

Turtle on Balochistan Coast

• Threats to Marine Turtle

population

• Conservation Work of Marine

Turtle

• Case Study

• Recommendation

International Union for Conservation of Nature

The Coastline of Balochistan

• The Balochistan coast extends from the mouth of the Hub River on the coast to the middle of Gwater Bay in the west and stretches on a distance of about 710km. The coastline can be classified as follows:

– Embayed Coast:

– Khalifa Bay, `Gadani Bay, Bayal Ras Malan, Ormara East and West Bays, Pasni Bay, Gwader East and West Bays, Bay at Ras Gunz and Gwatar Bay.

– Tide Lagoons:

– Miani Hor at Sonmiani Bay and Kalmat Khor.

– Esturies of seasonal Rivers:

– Hub River, Porali River, Basol River, Hingol River. Shadikaur and Dasht River.

International Union for Conservation of Nature

Marine Turtles in Balochistan

• Nesting Turtle

• Green Turtle

(Chelonia mydas)

• Olive ridleys

(Lepidochelys

olivacea)

Courtesy : ZSD

Courtesy : ZSD

International Union for Conservation of Nature

Marine Turtles in Balochistan

• Visiting Turtle • The leatherback turtle is among

five species of marine turtles

reported to occur in the territorial

waters of Pakistan (Ghalib and

Zaidi 1976), but its nesting has not

been recorded (Ghalib and Zaidi

1976).

• Hawksbill Turtle

• Loggerhead Turtle

• Leather back Turtle

International Union for Conservation of Nature

Reported Turtle Nesting Sites

•

1. Dedalloo Taak

2. Shaheed Taak

3. Rendani Taak

4. Makka Taak

5. Peshukan West Beach

6. Kapessi Beach Gwader

7. Darang Beach Gwader

8. Surbandar Beach Gwader

9. Karwat Beach

10. Zarrain Beach Pasni

11. Juddi Beach Pasni

12. Astola Island Beach 1

13. Astola Island Beach-2

14. Ormara Turtle Beach (Taak-1-2)

15. Hingol National Park

Courtesy PWP- Gwader

Courtesy PWP- Gwader

International Union for Conservation of Nature

Map of Turtle Nesting Sites

International Union for Conservation of Nature

Man-made Threats

• Sand Mining for Construction,

• Beach armours (protection wall)

• Beach lighting

• Poaching of Turtle Eggs

• Utilization of eggs for livestock and Human consumption

• Medicinal Use (Asthma)

• Blood of Turtle Used for Paralysis Patients

• Gill Nest and Long line

• Trawling

• Ghost Net

• Plastic Bags

• Beach Picnickers

• Oil Pollution

Courtesy PWP- Gwader

Courtesy PWP- Gwader Courtesy PWP- Gwader

International Union for Conservation of Nature

Natural Threats

• Beach Erosion

• Climate Change

• Feeding Habitat Destruction

• Disease

• Threats from Dogs, Foxes and

Cats

• Sea Gulls

• Ghost Crab Courtesy PWP- Gwader

Courtesy PWP- Gwader

International Union for Conservation of Nature

Conservation Work of Marine Turtle on Balochistan

Coast

• WWF Pakistan Started work on

marine turtle at Daran Beach in

1997

• Pakistan Wetland Program

Gwader started working on Marine

Turtle on 2 sites of Daran beach

• Tagging program

• Satellite tagging program

International Union for Conservation of Nature

Case Study: Daran Conservation Committee Gwader

• Daran Conservation Committee

(DCC) working closely with WWF

Pakistan from 1997 to date

• DCC also working with Pakistan

Wetland Program on 2 nesting

sites.

• The community engaged in

1. Monitoring the beach

2. Protect turtle nests with

enclosures

3. Keeping record of nests,

inventory of hatchlings

4. Release hatchling in the sea.

Courtesy PWP- Gwader

Courtesy PWP- Gwader

International Union for Conservation of Nature

Community participation

International Union for Conservation of Nature

Good bye

International Union for Conservation of Nature

Recommendations

• Updated baseline

• Development of turtle

conservation plan

• Promotion of scientific studies to

achieve clear understanding on

population dynamics of (Olive

ridley)

• Establishment of a network to

operate cohesively with the

Government bodies , research

organizations and groups working

for the conservation at local,

national and international levels

Courtesy: PWP Gwd

International Union for Conservation of Nature

Thank You