The activists also presented the Chief Minister with a copy of the 'I Witness' Report, which documents the principle findings of monitoring, research and documentation carried out by Greenpeace in the Devi region of Orissa. It's chilling reminder of the urgency of the issue, as the Olive Ridleys are being pushed further towards extinction.

Unfortunately, 12 of the activists were arrested - while Mr Patnaik was simply ushered to his vehicle.

Ironically, 2006 is the "United Nations Year of the Turtle" - yet our activists in Orissa have documented over two thousand dead turtles along the coast, from Ramchandi to the Jatadhar river mouth. The vast majority of these deaths are caused by illegal fishing, particularly trawling, in no-trawling zones.

In an earlier activity, a visit was made to the Chief Wildlife Warden, and a turtle graveyard at his doorstep, asking him what he has done to prevent these deaths. Surprisingly, he responded by saying that his department had neither the expertise nor the infrastructure required to adequately protect the turtles.

- Dave

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