Chapter 2: A True Story of Sea Turtles

WARMING UP! [PAGE 30]

Warming Up! | Q 1 | Page 30
Observe the following photographs. What is common among all these animals? They
are all endangered species. They are likely to die out completely, one of the reasons
being human activity in their habitat. If these animals could think and speak like
humans, what would they say?

Form groups of 5-8. Prepare short autobiographical speeches for each of these animals
(10-15 lines). Use the following points :
• How the animal lives - It’s the only way he/she can.
• How he interacts with nature and other animals.
• How humans interact with that species - whether it is fair, necessary, or
desirable, etc.
• The possible ill effects of the way human beings treat the animals, f or the whole
living world.
• The animal getting ready to bid farewell to this world.

SOLUTION
Autobiography of a Tiger:
Hello, I am a Tiger. I live in the jungle, with my friends. I live here freely with no limits
and no boundaries. Nature has bestowed us ample land, water, etc. I use to prey mostly
on animals like deer and buffaloes for living. But for the last few years, we are in trouble.
Human beings hunt and kill us, they trap us and take us to cities. They keep us in
cages, keep us hungry, and use our skin as clothes, which is not fair. Due to these
actions I and all my friends use to attack human beings when found. We for the sake of
our life attack human beings. We are near to extinct, if all of us die then where you will
find such heroic animals like us. I am worried that all of us will no more be a part of this
world if this doesn't stop. Please save us from this danger.
Autobiography of a Monkey:
Hello, I am a Monkey. I live in the jungle, the mountains, with my friends. I live here
freely with no limits and no boundaries. Nature has bestowed us ample land, trees, etc.
I use to eat nuts, fruits, seeds, and flowers. some of my friends eat meat in the form of
bird eggs, small lizards, insects, and spiders. But from the last few years, we are in
trouble. According to my knowledge, 262 species of us in the world are threatened with
extinction. Fifty-eight of the threatened species live in south and central America, 46 in
Asia, and 26 in Africa. Of these, 24 species of us are critically endangered, with an
extremely high chance of soon becoming extinct in the wild. Our young ones are mostly
hunted by chimpanzees and rarely by Human beings. We are near to extinct if all of us
die then where you will find such naughty animals like us who always entertain and
tease you making you happy. Please save us from this danger.
Autobiography of a Blue Whale:
Hello, I am a Blue whale the biggest animal in the world. I am a marine mammal and
live freely with no limits and no boundaries. Nature has bestowed us ample water
bodies to live in. I use to eat krill (euphausiids) and copepods. But for the last few years,
we are in trouble. Humans hunt us extensively for our large quantities of baleen,
blubber, and meat, We are near to extinct, if all of us die then where you will find such
big animals like us to show the worlds. Please save us from this danger.
Autobiography of a Dhole:
Hello, I am 'dhole', or the Indian wild dog. I live in the mountainous regions. I am a
social animal and live together with my whole family. I mostly hunt deer, monkeys,
buffaloes, etc. But for the last few years, we are in trouble. Human beings hunt us for
fur. We are also dying due to diseases. Please save us from this danger.
Warming Up! | Q 2.1 | Page 30
Hold a classroom discussion on the following topic and later on, expand the
themes on your own. (10-15 lines)
Why human beings need to use more and more natural resources.

SOLUTION
Due to the increasing population, human beings need to use more and more resources.
But if this is not controlled then resources in the future will decline and it will affect future
generation peoples. So our duty is to conserve natural resources. We should use it in
limited means. We should focus on renewable sources for generating energy. If the
growing population is not controlled then the whole world will face a dangerous
situation. Non-renewable resources once get depleted cannot be created since it takes
many years to form. Every single person in this world should take responsibility to
conserve natural resources.
Warming Up! | Q 2.2 | Page 30
Hold a classroom discussion on the following topic and later on, expand the
themes on your own. (10-15 lines)
Should we conserve only the most beautiful and most useful things in nature?
SOLUTION

It is right to say that we should conserve the most useful and most beautiful things in
nature. But it is not 100% right to say that. We should not think that in this big world only
humans should exist and no other animals. We don’t know the fact that every organism
in this world is either useful for humans directly or indirectly. Most of the things in this
world are not useful and not beautiful for humans but they in some way playing
important role in maintaining our ecosystem balanced and health y.
Warming Up! | Q 2.3 | Page 30
Hold a classroom discussion on the following topic and later on, expand the
themes on your own. (10-15 lines)
What is ‘beautiful’ or ‘useful’? Who has the right to decide that?

SOLUTION
I think that if a person is well educated and is a lover of nature then he/she has the right
to decide what is ‘beautiful’ or ‘useful’. Else no one in this world has the right to decide
that. As mentioned earlier that many things are not beautiful and useful in one's eye but
it is useful in others' eyes.
ENGLISH WORKSHOP [PAGE 35]

English Workshop | Q 1.1 | Page 35

Form groups. Discuss the first two paragraphs. Try to present their content in the form
of a series of conversations among the volunteers.

SOLUTION
Conversations between volunteers
First Hey, look here, its like eggshells! I wonder how it is here?
Volunteer:
Second Eggshells? Where? Oh, it's there deep in that pit in the sand!
Volunteer:
Third I have never seen this before!
Volunteer:
First Something unusual. We should ask these villagers.
Volunteer:
Second They say that they are turtle eggshells.
Volunteer:
Third But we had never come across turtle eggs in our walks along the
Volunteer: beaches of Konkan in all these years.
First Let’s have a detailed inquiry about this from villagers.
Volunteer:
 Second That’s right.
Volunteer
Third Let’s go.
Volunteer:

English Workshop | Q 1.2 | Page 35

Form groups. Discuss the first two paragraphs. Try to present their content in the form
of a series of conversations among the volunteers and the villagers.

SOLUTION
Conversations between volunteers and villagers
First Villager : Ya, you are able to see these eggs these days because the beach was
sealed for the public for nearly a month, after they had caught some
people smuggling silver bricks in the area.

Third But, how is that related to the eggshells?

Volunteer :
First Villager : Nowadays the local people come out early in the morning and search
the beach for these eggs. They then either eat the eggs or sell them in
the market.

Second That is so disturbing! How do they find these eggs?

Volunteer :
Second The female turtle leaves a trail behind her after laying the eggs. The egg
Villager : hunters follow this trail, dig up the pits, find a hundred to one hundred
and fifty eggs and then steal them.

First Volunteer That is so wicked!

:
First Villager : Yes, it is, Sir. And if a female turtle is spotted while she is still laying her
eggs, she is first allowed to lay her eggs and then, even she is caught
and killed!

Third This is wrong and illegal! Sea turtles are given protection under Schedule
Volunteer : 1 of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972!
Second We need to take immediate action against this!
Volunteer :
First Volunteer Yes, we need to protect these turtles!
:
 First Villager : We are ready to help in any way possible.

Third Let’s do this!

Volunteer :

English Workshop | Q 2 | Page 35

Prepare a short note on sea turtles with the help of the information given in the
passage.

SOLUTION
Sea Turtles are aquatic animals playing an important function in marine ecology - they
keep the sea clean. Out of the seven species of sea turtles, five are found in India.
Green turtles, Hawksbills, and Olive Ridley turtles are the three species of sea tu rtles
that are found in Maharashtra.

The Olive Ridley sea turtles nest all along the coast of Maharashtra. The female turtle
comes to the shore only to lay eggs and then return back to the sea. They do not visit
the nest again. The nest is just half a metre deep in the sand and holds around 100 -
150 eggs.

These eggs hatch using natural heat after a period of forty to forty-five days and the
hatchlings rush back to the sea. An amazing fact is that all female turtles from these
young hatchlings later come to the same place to lay their eggs after they mature. The
only danger is the sea as the young ones are too weak to protect themselves.

So only a few survive from a full nest. Besides that, the turtle eggs are also sold and
eaten. It is important to protect these turtles on a large scale all over the world as they
are now an endangered species.
English Workshop | Q 3 | Page 35
Prepare a poster to illustrate how the turtle eggs were/are protected. Include the
following in the poster.

• Some pictures of sea turtles and their habitat

• Information about turtle nests and eggs
• A picture and information about a ‘protected nest’
• Appeal to the public to spread awareness about their conservation
• Some data (figures) regarding the achievements so far
SOLUTION

English Workshop | Q 4 | Page 35

Prepare a simple brochure regarding the ‘homestay’ facilities made available in the
villages. Form groups and discuss the points you will use in the brochure. Remember to
include the precautions that tourists have to take at the site, in your brochure.

SOLUTION
English Workshop | Q 5 | Page 35
Explain the idea of ‘Conservation of Nature through Livelihood’ briefly, using the
example given here.

SOLUTION
The idea of 'Conservation of Nature through Livelihood' explains that the conservation
of nature which is essential can be done along with building a livelihood. The villagers of
Velas used to steal turtle eggs and eat the female turtles that came to lay eggs on the
beach. But now, Velas has become a tourist spot as it has become well known for its
efforts of conservation of turtles. Many tourists flock to the small village during the Turtle
Festival to watch the secured hatching process. The villagers have realized that tourism
can be a major source of income for them. They have become part of the 'Turtle Friends
Our'. They not only help in the protection work but also offer 'homestays' to
accommodate the tourists. They get a handsome amount out of this. Th is encourages
the villagers too. help in the conservation process. The villagers also donate ten percent
of their income to the Turtle Protection Fund. Thus in exchange for livelihood people to
protect nature and co-exist in harmony with nature.
English Workshop | Q 6. (a) | Page 35
Prepare bullet point presentations on the following:
Scope for tourism in your locality

SOLUTION
Scope for tourism in your locality:
• There is an old abandoned lake in the vicinity hidden by trees and bushes, away
from the hustle and bustle of the city. This small piece of land is slowly turning
into a dumping yard with people dumping trash in the lake and the woods
surrounding it. Its stench is not the only problem but it is also turning out to be a
health hazard.

• The lake could be turned into a beautiful spot of attraction after a clean -up. The
woods surrounding it could be turned into a park after working on its landscape.
Putting up strong fencing and gates, planting new flower shrubs, installing
benches, and building a play area for kids could give the city the park it needs.

• Also, a fountain, a walking and jogging track, a few types of equipment for
exercise could help citizens catch a fresh breath and work out to be fit and
healthy.

English Workshop | Q 6. (b) | Page 35

Prepare bullet point presentations on the following:
Prudent utilisation of natural resources
SOLUTION

Prudent utilisation of natural resources:

• Natural resources are a gift from nature.

• There are two types of natural resources, namely renewable and non-renewable.
• Renewable resources are the ones that 1 gets renewed.
• Non-renewable resources like oil, minerals, coal will soon get depleted.
• Overuse of these resources not only causes pollution but will also deplete them
sooner.
 • We should try and harness all the renewable resources of energy which are
actually a green source of energy.

English Workshop | Q 7.1 | Page 35

Read the following entries in the ‘Language Study’ pages :
a. clause
b. sentence
Underline the main clause in the following sentence.
There are a few people in every village who keep combing the beach in the early hours
of the morning, throughout the year.

SOLUTION
Main Clause: There are a few people in every village.
English Workshop | Q 7.2 | Page 35
Read the following entries in the ‘Language Study’ pages :
a. clause
b. sentence
Underline the main clause in the following sentence.
When the female turtle comes onshore to nest and to lay eggs, she leaves behind a trail
just like a track of wheels on the sand.

SOLUTION
Main Clause: she leaves behind a trail just like on the sand.
English Workshop | Q 7.3 | Page 35
Read the following entries in the ‘Language Study’ pages :
a. clause
b. sentence
Underline the main clause in the following sentence.
The egg hunters follow this trail right up to the nest which is about half a metre deep.

SOLUTION
Main Clause: The egg hunters follow this trail right up to the nest.
English Workshop | Q 8 | Page 35
Read: ‘Last Chance to See’ by Douglas Adams and Mark Carwardine.

SOLUTION
Do it Yourself.