Pakistan People’s Party chairman, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari along with his sister Bakhtawar Bhutto released 300 baby turtles in the sea at Hawkes Bay beach in a bid to promote the conservation of marine life.
Sindh Local Government Minister, Nasir Hussain Shah, and Bangul Khan Mahar, the special assistant to Chief Minister on Wildlife and Forest accompanied Bilawal and Bakhtawar at the Marine Turtle Conservation Unit at Hawkes Bay.
Bilawal Bhutto expressed excitement over releasing baby turtles in the sea. He also visited the nursery that releases the turtles annually. During his visit, he was informed that the nursery has been working for the past 34 years but is facing a lack of funds and employees to function smoothly.
Joined the Sindh wild life department today in releasing 300 baby turtles with Bilawal bhutto zardari @sindhwildlife – such a memorable experience #Karachi #Pakistan 💚 @AseefaBZ @BakhtawarBZ @BBhuttoZardari @MediaCellPPP h pic.twitter.com/1gz0pT7q2i
— Rashid Durrani🇱🇾 (@RashidDurani5) December 16, 2019
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari issued directives to the Sindh Wildlife Department to immediately address the issues of the nursery.
Every year, hundreds of green sea turtles arrive at Hawkes Bay and Sandspit beaches in November and October, lay their eggs in the sand and leave. The Wildlife Department takes care of these eggs till the baby turtles are hatched.
During this time, the officials of Sindh Wildlife Department informed, they guard eggs and baby turtles being eaten and destroyed by stray dogs and birds. It takes 40 to 60 days for the newly hatched baby turtles to reach the shore from the time since the eggs are laid.
Read more: Bilawal Bhutto watched Donkey King in cinema
The provincial coordinator of the wildlife department stated that baby turtles are abandoned by their mother as soon as she lay eggs – she does not return to look after the eggs. Hence, the newly hatched baby turtles have to safely make their way to the sea on their own.
Usually, there is a distance of 100 to 150 feet from the turtle’s nest to the water. Hence, the newly hatched baby turtles cover a risky distance to the shore, escaping the nearby predators. A few of them manage to make to the sea since most of them are preyed by birds. They are not safe even in the sea since other predators are waiting for them there.
Hence, the wildlife department takes care of these baby turtles and aides in their struggle until they make their way to the shore.
Karachi: Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and BB Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari arrives sea and released baby turtles in the sea
GA @BBhuttoZardari pic.twitter.com/sAC6mXUFN0— Aftab Hussain (@KhadimHussainKK) December 16, 2019
https://twitter.com/MZainRahoo/status/1206598916667564032
Earlier, this month 140 baby turtles were released on the shore during the second release of the season. In the first season, nearly 70 baby turtles were released in the sea. The Sindh Wildlife Department said the activity will continue till February.