In Tamil Nadu, India, over 1,000 Olive Ridley turtles have been found dead along the coastline, possibly due to the effects of indiscriminate fishing practices. These turtles play a crucial role in maintaining the marine ecosystem's balance and migrate each January to nest in Tamil Nadu. Despite conservation efforts such as egg collection, incubation, and hatchling release, only a small percentage of eggs typically survive to adulthood.

Activists are concerned about the recent deaths, with post-mortem analyses showing that many turtles drowned. Unmonitored fishing practices, such as trawlers operating too close to the shore with nets that entangle the turtles, are believed to be a significant cause of the fatalities. The washed-up carcasses may represent only a fraction of the total deaths, with estimates suggesting that nearly 5,000 Olive Ridley turtles could have died in the sea.