Research abstracts

Field surveys were conducted day and night between August and December. Among the districts surveyed, Jamnagar and Junagadh coasts provide potential habitat for nesting compared to other coasts. No nesting of Leatherback and Hawksbill turtles were recorded during this survey. Turtle eggs are under predation by animals and humans. Animal predation (36 per cent) is more than human predation, which is higher than the estimates for Olive Ridley (20-30 per cent) in Rushikulya on the Orissa coast (Pandav et al, 1998).

Contact: Gujarat Institute of Desert Ecology, Patwadi Naka, Bhuj, Kutchh - 371 001, Gujarat.

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