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