Bbarefoot ecologists� behind return of Olive Ridleys to Odisha�s beach
Youngsters who patrol the murky shoreline into wee hours of the night, a women�s self help group which protects the mushy hatchlings, and a resolute 36-year-old man who has vowed to never marry to serve the �second avatar of Lord Vishnu� – these are the pieces of an untold story behind the resurgence of the thousands of Olive Ridley sea turtles to the golden sand beaches of Odisha.
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Bichitranal Biswal, fondly called Bichi and hailed by his friends as the �Turtle Man of India�, was in eighth standard when he first saw hundreds of dead turtles on the beach and alerted the media about 17 years ago. �I warned the local fishermen, that if things continued the same way, there would be no fish left for us to catch by 2030,� Bichi said. He has vowed not to marry, and dedicated his life to protect the turtles, which he equates with the God Vishnu. �They are the avatar of Vishnu. They are my wife, my children and everything,� said the 36 year old, who recently suffered a paralysis attack which left him bedridden. However, his determination to return to his mission helped him get back on his feet within a span of four months.
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Photo from PTI.
