New helpline to help rescue stranded marine animals

Hubballi: Reefwatch, a not for profit organisation, has launched first-of-its-kind marine helpline to rescue stranded marine animals and mitigate environmental problems on India’s coastline.

Forest departments of Karnataka and Goa in the last six years have reported sightings of over 1,800 stranded marine animals including Sea Turtles, Pelagic Birds and Cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises).

Reefwatch has been working on marine ecology in Karnataka and Goa. It now intends to provide real-time guidance via calls and consultations, ensuring no stranded sea turtle, sea bird or cetacean goes unattended with its helpline [phone] (Matsya: Marine Telemedicine Helpline & Resource Centre).

The dedicated telephone number intends to support citizens, forest department staff or anyone who encounters strandings on India’s coastline.

A team of marine biologists and veterinarians will provide real-time guidance via calls and consultations.

“Over the past few years of working in Goa and Karnataka, our team has attended to hundreds of cases of injured marine megafauna. While we have not got the financial resources to have physical treatment centres in each coastal state, we hope to use our experience to assist injured endangered marine animals through vets and professionals operating in those areas. Through Matsya, we not only hope to provide remote assistance to people who encounter injured/dead sea turtles, sea birds, dolphins and whales but also to gather this nation-wide information into a single database that can be used to better conserve these endangered species,” said Nayantara Jain, Executive Director of ReefWatch Marine Conservation.

The team has also prepared training material, including instructional videos, manuals and handbooks, which have been developed and translated into India’s coastal languages for this purpose, she says.

For the forest department the helpline would act as an additional conservation measure as scientists and veterinarians of Reefwatch, who have been assisting the ground staff of the department with identifying the species, gravity of injuries and first aid required, will now be able to assist fishermen, volunteers and others via call.

“Of late, the department is giving greater importance towards conservation of marine animals. Reefwatch has been assisting our staff in rescue, rehabilitation and finding the cause of death of marine animals. The helpline would add impetus for our conservation work,” said a senior forest officer who, till recently, worked in Canara Circle. He said the NGO should continue to work in collaboration with the forest department.

The organisation is supported by Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies Foundation.