Status and New Nesting Sites of Sea Turtles in Pakistan

Home , Astola Island, Hingol National Park, Kakapir

NOTES AND FIELD REPORTS 119

2005; Khan and Ghalib 2006b; Iffat 2009). Hawkesbay and Sandspit, a complex of two adjacent beaches, are among the most important nesting areas of the Indian subcontinent (Seminoff 2002). Each year from 1981 to 1983, nearly 6000 green turtles and 200 olive ridley turtles nested on the beaches of Hawkesbay and Sandspit (Kabraji and Firdous 1984), and from October 1979 to December 1997, nearly 1.5 million eggs from 17,702 nests were transplanted to enclosures to offset preda- tion under the Sindh Wildlife Management Board project. This transplanting included 1.4 million eggs from green turtles and 78,014 eggs from olive ridley turtles (Asrar 1999). Throughout the Indian subcontinent, sea turtle populations have been affected by human exploitation for many decades (Groombridge and Luxmoore 1989). Coupled with exploitation of sea turtle meat for human consumption and fisheries-based bycatch mortality, the thorough and systematic exploitation of eggs in many parts of Southeast Asia has led to the decline of sea turtle populations throughout the region (Pilcher 1999). Nesting populations in Pakistan have also been subjected to Chelonian Conservation and Biology, 2010, 9(1): 119–123 g 2010 Chelonian Research Foundation degradation of nesting habitats, marine pollution, and lack of management (Hussain 2009). Status and New Nesting Sites of Sea Turtles Sea turtles in Pakistan are protected, either directly or indirectly, through a series of legal and regulatory in Pakistan provisions. All species have been declared legally 1 1 protected under the Sindh Wildlife Protection Ordinance M. ZAHEER KHAN ,SYED ALI GHALIB , AND (1972), the Balochistan Wildlife Protection Act (1974), 1 BABAR HUSSAIN and the Sindh Wildlife Protection Act (1993). Also, Clause 5 (Export Restriction) in the Pakistan Fish 1Department of Zoology–Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Inspection and Quality Act of 1997 sponsored by Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan [[email protected]; Pakistan’s Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock [email protected]; [email protected]] forbids the export and domestic consumption of aquatic turtles. However, although sea turtles are legally protect- ABSTRACT. – Nesting of Chelonia mydas and Lepido- chelys olivacea in Pakistan occurs at Hawkesbay and ed, their nesting sites do not have any ‘protected area’ Sandspit along Karachi Coast and at Ormara and status (Khan et al. 2005). Jiwani along Balochistan Coast. During the present Despite the legal protection of sea turtles in Pakistan, study, we surveyed all known and potential turtle few contemporary data are available on nesting distribu- nesting sites and identified 6 new nesting beaches, tion and abundance. Kabraji and Firdous (1984) suggested including Mubarak village (Karachi Coast), Gwadar that the Balochistan Coast hosted significant populations (West Bay), Pishukan, Ganz, Sonmiani, and Hingol of marine turtles. However, due to inaccessibility to the National Park (Balochistan Coast). During the study vast majority of beach sites, no field surveys were we observed that habitat degradation constitutes a undertaken. Similarly, Groombridge (1988) reported that major threat at coastal areas near Karachi and 95% of the Balochistan Coast—a stretch extending more Korangi creeks. than 640 km—appeared adequate for nesting activity but was largely inaccessible, thus preventing investigation of KEY WORDS. – sea turtles; nesting sites; status specific nesting sites. Today, much of the Balochistan coastline is accessible due to the construction of a coastal Five sea turtle species, including green turtles highway, thus providing an opportunity to expand upon (Chelonia mydas), olive ridley turtles (Lepidochelys earlier survey efforts. olivacea), hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata), The present study is the first effort in more than 2 loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta), and leatherback decades to record the nesting distribution and current turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) have been reported from status of marine turtles in Pakistan (Figs. 1, 2). The results the Pakistan Coast (Ghalib and Zaidi 1976; Groombridge will be helpful in developing a conservation plan by 1982, 1987a, 1987b; 1989; Firdous 1986, 1988; Kabraji numerous stakeholders, including the provincial govern- and Firdous 1984; Groombridge et al. 1988; Khan et al. ments of Pakistan, the National Council for Conservation 120 CHELONIAN CONSERVATION AND BIOLOGY, Volume 9, Number 1 – 2010

Figure 1. Map of the Balochistan coastal area of Pakistan, a stretch extending more than 850 km. Today, much of the Balochistan coastline is accessible due to the construction of a coastal highway. of Wildlife, and national and international nongovern- during which all the tracks encountered over the beach mental organizations such as World Wildlife Fund- were counted, and the number of turtles from all beach Pakistan and the International Union for the Conservation sections pooled to arrive at the total nesting activity for of Nature. Our findings will also create public awareness each month. Each person was posted at an interval of 1 km regarding the importance of conserving the marine turtles to count the emerging turtles during surveys. In addition, and their habitats. we conducted early morning beach surveys by foot or in a Methods. — This study was carried out along the vehicle, searching for crawls to further quantify nesting Balochistan and Sindh Coasts (Figs. 1 and 2, respective- activity. ly). Along the Karachi Coast, there are 2 primary beaches: Selected localities along the Balochistan Coast were Sandspit and Hawkesbay. Both beaches are 5 km in surveyed in January 2006. Five nights were spent at each length, with sand dunes starting at the high-water mark. site, and nesting activity was characterized through track The beach slopes at Sandspit and Hawkesbay are from counts, counts of nest pits, counts of nesting turtles, and 40u to 60u and 20u to 40u, respectively, from the high- interviews with local residents. Turtles and turtle tracks water mark to the subtidal zone (Hussain 2009). The were identified according to Minton (1966) and Pritchard beaches are separated by a small rocky outcrop, known as et al. (1983). Kakapir, within the intertidal area. The rocky ledges Results and Discussion. — The results of our surveys gently slope and extend to the neap low-water mark. are summarized in Table 1. Along the Karachi Coast, a There are sabellarian reefs along the edges of the rocky new green turtle nesting site was discovered near ledge near the neap low-water zone. Mubarak Village, an area of difficult access approximate- Surveys occurred from September 2004 through ly 25 km from Hawkesbay (Fig. 1). Nocturnal surveys December 2007, with efforts occurring primarily during and interviews suggest that 20–50 nests are deposited the peak of the nesting season (July to November). A 5- nightly during the peak of the season. Along the person team conducted nocturnal surveys along a 50-km Balochistan Coast, we visited 9 nesting sites, 5 of which stretch of the Karachi Coast nesting beach. Thus, had been previously reported by Groombridge (1987a, fortnightly surveys (i.e., every 15 days) were conducted, 1987b). Those not described by Groombridge (1987a, NOTES AND FIELD REPORTS 121

Figure 2. Map of the Sindh coastal area of Pakistan. This portion of the Pakistani Coast hosts Hawkesbay and Sandspit, 2 of the most important nesting areas for marine turtles on the Indian subcontinent.

1987b) include Gwadar (West Bay), Pishukan, Ganz, green turtles were recorded at Sandspit/Hawkesbay Sonmiani, and Hingol National Park (Fig. 2). (Table 2). We documented hawksbill tracks at Cape Green turtles were the most commonly reported Monze (Mubarak Village) and also received reports of species. From September 2004 to December 2007, 5964 hawksbill at Astola Island, which is consistent with

Table 1. Summary of results of surveys on nesting sites along Sindh and Balochistan Coasts of Pakistan.

Location name Latitude (N) Longitude (E) Beach length Species Nesting season Hawkesbay/Sandspit 24u519/24u509 66u519/66u549 5 km/5 km C. mydas Year round, with peak L. olivacea in Jul–Dec Cape Monze/Mubarak Village 24u549 66u419 1.5 km C. myda Jun–Jul D. coriacea E. imbricata Ormara 25u169 64u569 24 km C. mydas Jun–Nov Pasni 25u229 63u529 2.5 km C. mydas Jul–Aug Gwadar (West Bay, Kapaase area) 25u089 62u199 10 km C. mydas Jan Pishukan 25u049 61u219 500 m C. mydas Feb D. coriacea Ganz 25u059 61u519 100 m C. mydas Jan–Feb Jiwani 25u029 61u499 5km C. mydas Jul–Jan for C. mydas L. olivacea and L. olivacea D. coriacea Astola Island 25u079 63u519 1.5 km C. mydas Jul–Dec E. imbricata Hingol National Park (Hingol river 25u229 65u199 5km C. mydas Aug–Sep estuary, Sapat, Lassikund, Kund Malir, Sohrab Bandar, Wadh Bandar, Durigaz, and Baddauk) Sonmiani 3 km C. mydas Nov–Dec 122 CHELONIAN CONSERVATION AND BIOLOGY, Volume 9, Number 1 – 2010

Two additional threats, although reported as serious Table 2. Counts of green turtle females encountered during surveys at nesting beaches on the Karachi Coast of Pakistan. issues in Pakistan, are perhaps less threatening to sea turtle populations than once believed. These include Year of survey marine pollution and direct harvest of turtles and eggs. Month 2004 2005 2006 2007 With respect to pollution, although it may be major problem near the coastal city of Karachi, the confined Jan 25 78 81 Feb 07 77 36 ocean circulation patterns near this coastal metropolis Mar 04 80 11 prevent widespread impacts from this point-source of Apr 01 04 02 environmental contamination. Regarding direct harvest of May 01 01 02 Jun 27 98 05 sea turtles, small-scale commercial harvest occurred along Jul 52 192 119 Karachi Coast in early 1970s but has since been totally Aug 94 277 244 stopped (Khan and Ghalib 2006b). Likewise, there is no Sep 121 122 391 411 Oct 130 131 434 521 significant egg harvesting in Pakistan. Nov 169 147 459 631 Scientific research has been relatively advanced in Dec 72 20 378 309 India, Malaysia, and Thailand, while many countries Total 492 631 2469 2372 (including Pakistan) have surveys and monitoring pro- grams, although these are often not conducted at sufficient intervals to provide accurate population trends throughout descriptions by Khursheed et al. (1995). Leatherback all nesting points. Although Ormara, Astola and Jiwani nesting was reported at Mubarak Village, Pishukan, and turtle beaches have been declared as Ramsar Sites since Jiwani. Since 2003, there have been no reports of olive 2001, scientific management of these sites required under ridley nesting in Pakistan, perhaps due to a major oil spill a management plan is still insufficient (Khan and Ghalib that occurred in the region (Hussain 2009). 2006a), a problem that is compounded by the lack of As per our observations and interviews with local awareness about the threats to marine turtles and their fishermen, it is interesting to note that the turtle habitats. population along the Sindh Coast (about 250 km) is restricted to only about 50 km along the western coastline. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Turtles are rarely seen along the remaining 200 km of the coastline facing mouth of River Indus, which has mostly The authors deeply thank the World Conservation muddy substrate. Union Pakistan (IUCNP) for their project funding in Declines in Pakistani sea turtle populations have been 2006. This paper was presented in the International attributed to a number of factors including habitat Congress for Conservation Biology, 22nd Annual Meet- alteration, loss of nesting and foraging areas, marine ing of the Society for Conservation Biology held at pollution, and commercial harvesting (Khan and Ghalib Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA, in July 2008, and for 2006b). Habitat loss and beachfront lighting are of paper presentation, traveling grant was provided by the particular concern and have been implicated as 2 of the Higher Education Commission, Government of Pakistan. most dire threats throughout South Asia (Bhupathy and We also thank to Prof Jamil Kazmi and Saima Shiekh, Saravanan 2002; Islam 2002). Incidental bycatch in Department of Geography, University of Karachi for fisheries is also a major cause of mortality throughout preparation of study areas maps. the Indian Ocean and has been reported from the Near East (Ross and Barwani 1982), Pakistan (Asrar 1999), LITERATURE CITED both coasts of India (Rajagopalan et al. 1996; Pandav 2000), and elsewhere. The increase in artisanal fishing ASRAR, F. 1999. Decline of marine turtle nesting populations in effort throughout Pakistan and other coastal areas of the Pakistan. Marine Turtle Newsletter 83:13–14. Indian Ocean is definitely a cause for concern in the BHUPATHY,S.AND SARAVANAN, S. 2002. Status survey of sea turtles along the Tamil Nadu Coast. A Government of India/ future. However, the primary culprit as reported in other UNDP sea turtle project report. Coimbatore, India, Salim Ali areas—shrimp trawling—is not a major problem along Centre for Ornithology and Natural History. Balochistan Coast due to a total ban on trawling along FIRDOUS, F. 1986. Marine turtles. Proceedings of International roughly 800 km of Balochistan coastline. This is Conference on Marine Sciences of the Arabian Sea. Institute supported by fact that bycatch studies in Pakistan have of Marine Sciences, Univ. of Karachi. never reported marine turtles as bycatch shrimp trawls, a FIRDOUS, F. 1988. Conservation of turtles at Sandspit and finding that may be due to the fact that shrimp trawl nets Hawkesbay, Karachi In: Thompson, M.F. and Tirmizi, N.M. used in Pakistan have small openings, are hauled (Eds.). Proceedings of International Conference on Marine Sciences of the Arabian Sea. Washington, DC: American manually, and their deployments have very short tow Institute of Biological Sciences, pp. 217–222. durations. Not surprisingly, turtle excluder devices are not GHALIB, S.A. AND ZAIDI, S.S.H. 1976. Observations on the survey commonly used in Pakistani shrimp trawlers despite a and breeding of marine turtles on Karachi Coast. Agriculture legal mandate. Pakistan 27(1):87–96. NOTES AND FIELD REPORTS 123

GROOMBRIDGE, B. 1982. The IUCN Amphibia-Reptilia Red Data RAJAGOPALAN, M., VIVEKANANDAN, E., KRISHNA PILLAI, S., Book, Part I, Testudines, Crocodylia, Rhynchocephalia. SRINATH, M., AND FERNANDO, A.B. 1996. Incidental catches Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. of sea turtles in India. Marine Fisheries Information Service GROOMBRIDGE, B. 1987a. A preliminary marine turtle survey on Technical and Extension Series 143:8–16. the Makran Coast, Baluchistan, Pakistan with notes on birds ROSS, J.P. AND BARWANI, M.A. 1982. Review of sea turtles in the and mammals. Cambridge: IUCN Conservation Monitoring Arabian area. Biology and conservation of sea turtles. In: Centre, Unpublished Report, 25 pp. Bjorndal, K.A. (Ed.). Biology and Conservation of Sea GROOMBRIDGE, B. 1987b. Makran Coast: a newly explored Turtles. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press, pp. habitat for marine turtle. WWF-Pakistan Newsletter 6(2):1–5. 373–383. GROOMBRIDGE, B. 1988. Marine turtles in Balochistan. Report on SEMINOFF, J.A. 2002. IUCN Red List Status Assessment: Green an aerial survey (with notes on wetland sites and a proposed turtle (Chelonia mydas). Marine Turtle Specialist Group marine turtle conservation project). Cambridge: World Review Draft. Marine Turtle Specialist Group, The World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Unpublished Report, 22 pp. Conservation Union, 87 pp. GROOMBRIDGE, B. 1989. Marine turtles in Baluchistan: report of an aerial survey, 9–11 September 1988. Cambridge: World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Received: 31 January 2009 GROOMBRIDGE, B., KABRAJI, A.M., AND RAO, A.L. 1988. Marine Revised and Accepted: 2 November 2009 turtles in Baluchistan (Pakistan). Marine Turtle Newsletter 42:1–3. GROOMBRIDGE,B.AND LUXMOORE, R. 1989. The Green Turtle and Hawksbill (Reptilia: Cheloniidae): World Status, Exploitation and Trade. Lausanne, Switzerland: Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, 601 pp. HUSSAIN, B. 2009. Population status, distribution and environmental impact on the reptiles in the vicinity of Karachi Coast. PhD Thesis, Department of Zoology, University of Karachi, Pakistan. IFFAT, F. 2009. Marine Turtles. Karachi: Zoological Survey Department, Government of Pakistan, 33 pp. ISLAM, M.Z. 2002. Threats to sea turtles in St. Martin’s Island, Bangladesh. Kachhapa 6:6–10. KABRAJI, A.M. AND FIRDOUS, F. 1984. Conservation of turtles, Hawkesbay and Sandspit, Pakistan. World Wildlife Fund Project 1451, WWF International and Sind Wildlife Man- agement Board, 52 pp. KHAN, M.Z. AND GHALIB, S.A. 2006a. Marine Ramsar sites in Pakistan with reference to biodiversity of Astola Island and Jiwani Coastal Wetland. Journal of Natural History and Wildlife 5(1):165–168. KHAN, M.Z AND GHALIB, S.A. 2006b. Status, distribution and conservation of marine turtles in Pakistan. Journal of Natural History and Wildlife 5(2):195–201. KHAN, M.Z., HUSSAIN, B., AND GHALIB, S.A. 2005. Current status of the reptilian fauna along Karachi Coast with special reference to marine turtles. Journal of Natural History and Wildlife 4(2):127–130. KHURSHEED, S.N., AZAM, M.M., HASNAIN, S.A., AND RASOOL,F. 1995. Astola Island—a potential site for marine national park. WWF Pakistan (Unpublished Report), 15 pp. MINTON, S.A. 1966. A contribution to the herpetology of West Pakistan. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 134:24–184. PANDAV, B. 2000. Conservation and management of olive ridley sea turtles on the Orissa Coast. PhD Thesis, Utkal University, Bhubaneshwar, India. PILCHER, N.J. 1999. Turtles turned turtle. Asian Geographic 2: 56–69. PRITCHARD, P., BACON,P.,BERRY, F., CARR,A.,FLETEMEYER,J., GALLAGHER,R.,HOPKINS,S.,LANKFORD,R.,MARQUEZ,R., ORGRAN, L., PRINGLE,W.,JR,REICHART,H.,AND WITHAM,R. 1983. Manual of sea turtle research and conservation techniques. Second Edition. Bjorndnal, K.A. and Balazs, G.H. (Eds.). Washington, DC: Centre for Environmental Education, 126 pp.