Karachi’s Olive Ridley turtles disappear from nesting beaches as experts seek snswers

The disappearance of Olive Ridley sea turtles from Pakistan’s historically recorded nesting beaches has raised concerns among wildlife experts following the discovery of a dead turtle on Clifton Beach in Karachi.

The disappearance of Olive Ridley sea turtles from Pakistan’s historically recorded nesting beaches has raised concerns among wildlife experts following the discovery of a dead turtle on Clifton Beach in Karachi.

Once regularly found along Pakistan’s sandy coastline the turtles were recorded nesting at Sandspit, Hawke’s Bay, Manora, Sonmiani Beach and other coastal locations. However, their breeding activity has declined dramatically leaving researchers searching for answers about where the turtles now reproduce.

According to Muhammad Moazzam Khan a technical adviser to WWF-Pakistan historical research recorded more than 500 Olive Ridley nests along Karachi’s beaches during the 1980s and 1990s. By 1996-97, the number had reportedly fallen to just two.

Since then, researchers have struggled to find reliable evidence of regular nesting by the species along Pakistan’s coast. Although Olive Ridley turtles continue to inhabit the Arabian Sea it remains unclear whether breeding females have shifted to other coastlines or whether environmental and human-related pressures have disrupted their nesting patterns.

The dead turtle found at Clifton Beach has no confirmed cause of death. Experts say possible explanations include entanglement in fishing nets collisions with vessels or exposure to marine pollution.

Khan believes satellite tracking could help solve the mystery. He referred to research in a neighbouring country in which a GPS-tagged Olive Ridley travelled across the Arabian Sea to breed in Oman. Similar tracking studies in Pakistan could help scientists identify migration routes locate breeding grounds and determine the threats turtles encounter.

Recent sightings suggest that the species still visits Pakistani waters. Two Olive Ridley turtles caught in fishing nets near Jiwani, Balochistan were recently rescued and released.

Meanwhile several dead green turtles have previously been discovered around Hawke’s Bay and Sandspit highlighting broader concerns about the dangers facing marine wildlife along Karachi’s coastline.

Muhammad Bakhsh Jat, chairman of the Fishermen Sajag Forum warned that plastic bags discarded waste and marine pollution threaten sea life and damage ecosystems that fishing communities depend on for their livelihoods.

Experts also identify fishing nets, coastal development, human activity and the degradation of nesting habitats as potential threats. However the precise reasons for the collapse of Olive Ridley nesting in Pakistan remain uncertain.

Olive Ridley turtles can travel thousands of miles between feeding and breeding areas. Scientists say tracking their movements could reveal whether turtles found in Pakistani waters are nesting elsewhere and help authorities develop conservation measures across regional migration routes.

For now the disappearance of their once-documented nesting grounds remains unresolved making further scientific research essential to understanding the future of Olive Ridley turtles along Pakistan’s coast.