Turtles are facing a race for survival, and it's up to humans to ensure their victory for our future.
Remember the fable of the hare and the tortoise in which the tortoise wins the race because of the rabbit's fecklessness?
Well today, this slow and steady creature is up against a far more formidable opponent in a far more perilous contest-the race for survival. It is up to us to see that it wins for in its victory lies our own future.
Contaminated with sewage & plastic waste, the well was polluted & poses a threat to quality of water & aquatic life.
Our planet, our resources, our responsibility
Why should you want to live with less plastic? It is cheap, convenient and in many instances the only available option. Though the warnings are all around us, we don’t have to deal with the consequences of its disposal directly.
The only time we express distaste is when we see once pristine beaches , fresh water bodies and forests littered with its debris.
We want our roads to be as clean as our homes and blame the government when it is not.
We mostly give up because we fail to see the power of individual choice. Believing there’s nothing we can do and inured by the constant bombings of doom by mass media, we ignore what we can to retain our sanity. But there’s another way.
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; Indeed it’s the only thing that ever has !
Every conscious choice has a ripple effect. A single plastic refused is one less choking turtle or making us less sick.
Tiny plastic particles from car tires and even clothing fabrics could be responsible for up to 40 percent of the plastic polluting the public well.
Wildlife Welfare Association (Thane) received a call on 7th September2017, the caller provided with vital & emergency information of dead turtles floating in the public well near the Hanuman Temple at Kalwa.
WWA Rescuer Sushil Gaikwad on immediate basis reached the spot. He was devasted & shocked by the sight of dead turtles, after scrutinizing & evaluating the condition of the public well which was contaminated with 40% of plastic waste & sewer drain water. But a few turtles were still fighting for survival & understanding the severity and the need of the situation wwa volunteer sushil reported & seeked help from Wildlife Welfare Association’s emergency rescue team.
WWA Emergency Rescue Unit: Aniket Kadam, Vikee Ghadge, Suraj Sonone, Rohit Mohite and Nikhil Parab reported to the place in less than 3o minutes after receiving the information.
The team evaluated the situation & a action plan to rescue the surviving turtles from the contaminated public well was getting planned.
The contaminated Public well was covered with a metal grill & had a small opening gate .It was necessary to lower the contaminated water level.
Looking at these complicated situation Forest Department (Thane Range) , Disaster Management Team & Fire Brigade were called to assist & to provide help with the rescue mission.
With the help of a water pumping motor the contaminated water level from the public well was lowered & after lowering it at sufficient level, Omkar Kolekar & Vikee Ghadge , WWA volunteers entered into the public well with the help of a rope and started with the rescue operation of turtles.
The volunteers were facing a very difficult situation as even though the water levels were lowered it was observed the sewer water was getting in via leakages from all over the well, contaminating the water.
Total of 9 Turtles were rescued out of which 6 were dead & 3 were severely sickened. Due to inadequacy of light the rescue operation was temporarily stopped by 3am & was resumed the next morning with the help of Forest Department, Thane range.
Later 2 more turtles were rescued out of which 1 was dead.
Dr. Shama (TMC veterinary doctor) started treating the sickened turtles.
P.S Water was drained out of the well so as to make sure none of the turtles were left behind.