Maharashtra State Board Class 9 English Lesson A True Story of Sea Turtles Summary, Line by Line Explanation, Theme, Poetic Devices along with difficult word meanings from English Kumarbharati Book
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A True Story of Sea Turtles Maharashtra State Board Class 9 English
– Bhau Katdare
Sahyadri Nisarg Mitra
- A True Story of Sea Turtles Introduction
- Theme of the Lesson
- A True Story of Sea Turtles Summary
- A True Story of Sea Turtles Summary in Hindi
- A True Story of Sea Turtles Lesson Explanation
A True Story of Sea Turtles Introduction
The chapter is a journey to protect turtles.
The author began this journey as a group of nature enthusiasts, surveying white-bellied sea-eagles. During coastal explorations, a surprising discovery led the author and his team to a new mission: protecting sea turtles. They stumbled upon turtle nests, a rare find in years of exploring Konkan’s beaches. This unexpected encounter ignited the author’s passion for conserving these ancient creatures and their fragile habitats.
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Theme / Central Idea of the Lesson A True Story of Sea Turtles
The themes that emerge in the chapter are-
- Local Community Involvement and Empowerment
The central theme is the importance of involving local communities in conservation efforts. The project demonstrates that local villagers can be effective protectors of their ecosystems. By empowering locals, the project ensures sustainability and long-term success.
- Conservation through Education and Awareness
The project emphasizes the role of education and awareness in conservation. By educating villagers and tourists, the project aims to change attitudes and behaviors. The Turtle Festival is a prime example of how education can be combined with tourism.
- The Balance Between Conservation and Livelihood
The project explores how conservation can be integrated with local livelihoods. Eco-tourism, such as homestay programs, provides a sustainable source of income. This approach demonstrates that conservation can benefit both the environment and local communities.
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A True Story of Sea Turtles Summary
Bhau Katdare associated with Sahyadri Nisarg Mitra launched a turtle conservation project in Maharashtra, India. The project aimed to protect sea turtles and their nests from poaching and exploitation.
Key findings and initiatives:
- Turtle poaching: The organization discovered that turtle eggs were being poached and sold in local markets.
- Community involvement: The project engaged local villagers to protect turtle nests and monitor their hatching.
- Turtle protection measures: Villagers were trained to identify and protect turtle nests, and wire fencing was used to secure them.
- Turtle hatchling release: The project witnessed successful hatchling releases, attracting local and international attention.
- Sustainable tourism: The project promoted “homestay” tourism to generate income for local communities while supporting turtle conservation.
- Community-based conservation: The success of the project demonstrated that local communities can play a crucial role in sustainable conservation efforts.
Overall, the project successfully protected sea turtles and their nests, promoted community involvement, and contributed to sustainable tourism in Maharashtra.
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A True Story of Sea Turtles Summary in Hindi
साहाद्री निसर्ग मित्र से जुड़े भाऊ कटदारे ने महाराष्ट्र, भारत में एक कछुआ संरक्षण परियोजना शुरू की। इस परियोजना का उद्देश्य समुद्री कछुओं और उनके घोंसलों को अवैध शिकार और शोषण से बचाना था।
मुख्य तथ्य और पहल:
- कछुआ अवैध शिकार: संगठन ने पाया कि कछुए के अंडे अवैध रूप से शिकार किए जा रहे थे और स्थानीय बाजारों में बेचे जा रहे थे।
- सामुदायिक भागीदारी: परियोजना ने कछुए के घोंसलों की रक्षा करने और उनके बच्चे निकलने की निगरानी करने के लिए स्थानीय ग्रामीणों को शामिल किया।
- कछुआ संरक्षण उपाय: ग्रामीणों को कछुए के घोंसलों की पहचान करने और उनकी रक्षा करने के लिए प्रशिक्षित किया गया था, और उन्हें सुरक्षित करने के लिए तार बाड़ का उपयोग किया गया था।
- कछुआ बच्चे निकलना: परियोजना ने सफल बच्चे निकलने के कार्यक्रम देखे, जिससे स्थानीय और अंतर्राष्ट्रीय ध्यान आकर्षित हुआ।
- सतत पर्यटन: परियोजना ने स्थानीय समुदायों के लिए आय उत्पन्न करने के साथ-साथ कछुआ संरक्षण का समर्थन करने के लिए “होमस्टे” पर्यटन को बढ़ावा दिया।
- सामुदायिक-आधारित संरक्षण: परियोजना की सफलता ने प्रदर्शित किया कि स्थानीय समुदाय सतत संरक्षण प्रयासों में महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका निभा सकते हैं।
कुल मिलाकर, परियोजना ने सफलतापूर्वक समुद्री कछुओं और उनके घोंसलों की रक्षा की, सामुदायिक भागीदारी को बढ़ावा दिया और महाराष्ट्र में सतत पर्यटन में योगदान दिया।
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A True Story of Sea Turtles Lesson Explanation
Passage: We were surveying the white bellied sea-eagles in the summer that year. As we roamed the coasts, one of the volunteers in our team saw some shallow pits with white egg shells nearby. Enquiries with the villagers revealed that they were turtle eggs. This came as a surprise. We had never come across turtle eggs in our walks along the beaches of Konkan in all these years. We decided to study this unusual occurrence further. We learnt that the beach where we had found the egg shells had been sealed to the public for nearly one month, after people smuggling silver bricks were caught in that area. But what we learnt further shocked us to the core.
Word Meaning
Surveying: Looking at or examining something carefully, often to gather information.
White-bellied sea-eagles: A type of eagle with a white underside.
Roamed: Wandered or traveled without a fixed destination.
Shallow pits: Small, not very deep holes.
Egg shells: The hard outer covering of an egg.
Enquiries: Questions or requests for information.
Turtle eggs: Eggs laid by turtles.
Unusual occurrence: Something that is not normal or expected.
Sealed to the public: Closed off to the public, preventing access.
Smuggling: Bringing things into or out of a country illegally.
Silver bricks: Bars or blocks of silver.
Shocked to the core: Very surprised and upset.
Explanation:During a summer observation of white-bellied sea eagles, the team of researchers stumbled upon a surprising discovery. While exploring the coastal areas, a volunteer noticed shallow pits with white egg shells nearby. Upon questioning the locals, they learned that those were turtle eggs. This was a completely unexpected find, as they had never encountered turtle nests in the years of exploring Konkan’s beaches.
Intrigued by this unusual occurrence, the team delved deeper into the matter and discovered that the beach where the eggs were found had been closed to the public for nearly a month due to a recent silver smuggling incident. However, what they uncovered next was truly shocking.
Passage: Turtles nest along the entire coastline of our State. There are a few people in every village who keep combing the beach in the early hours of the morning, throughout the year. When the female turtle comes on shore to nest and to lay eggs, she leaves behind a trail just like a track of wheels on the sand. The egg hunters follow this trail right up to the nest which is about half a metre deep. They dig up the nest, and steal all the 100- 150 eggs that are laid inside. These eggs are then either eaten or are sold in the market. If a turtle is spotted while it is still laying eggs, it is allowed to live till the laying is over.
Word Meaning
Coastline: The area where land meets the sea.
Combing: Searching carefully and thoroughly.
Trail: A mark or series of marks left behind by something that has passed.
Nest: A place built or used by an animal for laying eggs or raising young.
Dig up: To remove something from the ground by digging.
Steal: To take something that belongs to someone else without permission.
Spotted: Seen or noticed.
Laying: The process of producing eggs.
Explanation:Turtles lay their eggs along the entire coastline of our state (Maharashtra). Every village has a few people who search the beach for turtle nests early in the morning, all year round. When a female turtle comes ashore to lay eggs, she leaves a trail in the sand, similar to a track left by wheels. Egg hunters follow this trail to the nest, which is about half a meter deep. They dig up the nest and steal all 100-150 eggs. These eggs are then eaten or sold. If a turtle is seen laying eggs, it is allowed to finish before being disturbed.
Passage: As soon as the eggs are laid, it is caught, and then killed and eaten. This ruthless practice is observed in all parts of the world. However, in India, sea turtles have been given protection by including them under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972. That means turtles have been given as much protection as tigers. Therefore, all this business of gathering turtle eggs and killing turtles is carried on in a secret, hush-hush manner. This information was distressing. We began to think seriously about it. We decided to undertake a project for the protection and conservation of turtles and their nests in Maharashtra.
Word Meaning
Ruthless: Without mercy or pity; cruel.
Schedule I: A list of highly protected species in the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act.
Hush-hush: Secret or confidential; done in a quiet and private manner.
Distressing: Causing great worry or unhappiness.
Undertake: To begin or start a task or project.
Conservation: The protection and preservation of the natural environment.
Explanation: As soon as sea turtles lay their eggs, they are caught, killed, and eaten. This brutal practice occurs worldwide. Although India grants sea turtles protection under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, equating their protection to that of tigers, the illegal gathering of turtle eggs and killing of turtles continues secretly. This disturbing reality prompted the author to seriously consider a project for the protection and conservation of turtles and their nests in Maharashtra.
Passage: We had no experience regarding sea-turtles, so first of all we undertook a study of turtles. We contacted institutes that work for the protection of turtles in India. The next step was launching a Turtle Protection Campaign at Velas, Taluka Mandangad, District Ratnagiri. This was done with the support and co-operation of the Forest Department. As part of the campaign, a few local people were specially appointed to look for turtle nests on the beach in the morning. When they came across a nest, they had to carefully remove the eggs from the nest, and bury them again in a similar pit, but one protected with wire fencing. They had to watch over the protected nest to prevent thefts. In the first year, we could successfully protect 50 nests in this manner. When the babies hatched out of the eggs, what an event that was!
Word Meaning
Undertook: Started or began.
Campaign: A planned activity to achieve a particular goal.
Cooperation: Working together.
Appointed: Assigned or chosen.
Nest: A place where an animal lays its eggs.
Bury: Put something underground.
Wire fencing: A fence made of wire.
Hatched: Came out of an egg.
Explanation: The author and his team didn’t know much about sea turtles, so they started by learning about sea turtles. They talked to groups that help protect turtles in India. Then, they started a Turtle Protection Campaign in Velas,Taluka Mandangad, District Ratnagiri. The Forest Department helped them. They hired some local people to look for turtle nests on the beach. When they found a nest, they moved the eggs to a safe place with a wire fence. They watched the nests to stop people from stealing the eggs. In the first year, they saved 50 nests. It was exciting when the baby turtles hatched from the eggs.
Passage: The whole village rushed to the beach to witness the spectacle. When the tiny turtle hatchlings hurried across the silver sands to meet the rolling boundless sea, what an ovation they received from the onlookers! Some of the elderly villagers confessed that though they had seen (and stolen) turtle eggs right from their school days, it was for the first time that they had seen the hatchlings rushing to the sea.
Word Meaning
Spectacle: A striking or unusual sight.
Hatchlings: Baby turtles that have recently emerged from their eggs.
Silver sands: Sands that appear silvery or pale gray, often due to their fine texture or the angle of sunlight.
Boundless sea: A vast ocean without any visible limits.
Ovation: A demonstration of enthusiastic approval, especially by applause.
Explanation: The people from the village went to the beach to see something amazing. When the baby turtles walked across the sand to reach the big ocean, everyone clapped and cheered. Some old people said they had seen and taken turtle eggs when they were young, but this was the first time they had seen the baby turtles going to the sea.
Passage: There are seven types of sea turtles in the world, five of which are found in India. The Olive Ridley turtles nest along the entire coastline of Maharashtra. Green turtles and Hawksbills have also been found. An amazing characteristic of turtles is that when the female turtle reaches maturity, that is, nearly after a gap of 15 years, she returns to the shore to lay her eggs at the same place where she was born. The female comes on shore, just to make a nest in the sand and lay her eggs, and immediately returns to the sea. She does not return to the nest after that.
Word Meaning
Olive Ridley turtles: A type of sea turtle with an olive-green shell.
Hawksbills: A type of sea turtle with a distinctive, overlapping pattern on its shell.
maturity: The state of being fully grown or developed.
Explanation: There are seven different kinds of sea turtles in the world. India has five of these kinds. One kind, called Olive Ridley, makes nests on all parts of Maharashtra’s coastline. Green turtles and Hawksbills have also been seen on Maharashtra’s coastline.
Something exciting about turtles is that when they grow up and are ready to have babies, they go back to the same beach where they were born. The female turtle comes to the beach, digs a hole in the sand, lays her eggs, and then goes back to the sea. She doesn’t come back to nest the eggs.
Passage: The eggs hatch after a period of 45 to 50 days, using natural heat. Innumerable dangers await the little hatchlings in the deep sea, and they have to face them all on their own. Their survival rate is therefore as low as just one or two turtles out of a thousand. Turtles perform an important function – they keep the sea clean. Thus, they occupy an important place in marine ecology. Considering all these factors, it is vital to undertake their protection on a large scale.
Word Meaning
Innumerable: Countless, many.
Hatchlings: Baby turtles that have just emerged from their eggs.
Survival rate: The percentage of individuals that survive.
Marine ecology: The study of the relationships between organisms and their environment in the sea.
Vital: Extremely important, necessary.
Explanation: The eggs of these sea turtles take about 45 to 50 days to hatch using the warmth of the sun. After they hatch, the baby turtles have to swim all the way to the ocean, which is very dangerous. Only one or two baby turtles out of a thousand survive this journey. These turtles help keep the ocean clean, so they are very important for the ocean’s health. Because of all these reasons, we need to protect these turtles.
Passage: After the success at Velas, we started implementing the project in other places too. Within five years, the entire coastline of Maharashtra was surveyed. Protection was offered in eighty of the villages where turtle nests were found. Our strategy was to engage those who had so far been involved in stealing the eggs, then to train and involve them in the work of protection. We started the ‘Turtle Friend Awards’ (Kasav Mitra) to encourage more people to be a part of the protection campaign. A comprehensive booklet and a short film on the protection of turtles was prepared to spread the message.
Word Meaning
Coastline: The land along the edge of a sea or ocean.
Comprehensive: Including everything.
Spread the message: To make people aware of something.
Explanation: The author and his team had started a project to protect sea turtles at Velas. It went really well, so they decided to try it in other places along the coast of Maharashtra. Within five years, they had checked all the beaches there. They found turtle nests in eighty villages and helped protect them. Instead of just stopping people from stealing the eggs, they asked people to help protect the turtles. They even gave awards to people who were doing a good job. The author and his team also made a book and a movie to teach people about how to protect sea turtles.
Passage: The year 2006 saw the beginning of a novel concept – Turtle Festival or Kasav Mahotsava – an opportunity for tourists to witness the unique spectacle of the hatchlings rushing out to the sea. A short film on turtles and the natural beauty of Konkan were additional features of the festival. At the same time, we were quite firm on one issue – the hatchlings should not come to even the slightest harm due to this tourist activity. The tourists were accommodated in the homes of the villagers. The response to this novel concept of ‘homestay’ was excellent.
Word Meaning
Novel concept: A new or original idea.
Spectacle: A striking or unusual sight.
Hatchlings: Baby animals that have recently emerged from eggs.
Konkan: A coastal region in western India.
Slightest harm: The smallest amount of damage.
Homestay: A type of accommodation where tourists stay in a private home.
Explanation: In 2006, a new idea started: a Turtle Festival. People could watch baby turtles go into the ocean. There was also a movie about turtles and the beautiful Konkan area. The author and his team wanted to make sure the baby turtles were safe. Tourists stayed at local people’s homes, and everyone liked this idea.
Passage: A Turtle Friends Club was established in each village, the members being all the villagers offering ‘homestay’. All villages would now offer the same rate for ‘homestay’. They gave ten percent of their income from ‘homestay’ for the Turtle Protection Fund. The fund would be utilised for the purpose of protection and conservation of turtles. Modern technology also helped. The festival reached all corners of the world through the medium of the internet and our website.
Word Meaning
Utilised: Used for a particular purpose.
Conservation: The protection and preservation of natural resources.
Explanation: In every village, a club called “Turtle Friends” was started. This club was for people who let visitors stay at their homes. All these villages agreed on the same price for people to stay at their homes. They also gave 10% of the money they made from this to help protect turtles. This money was used to keep turtles safe and healthy. Computers and the internet helped spread news about the festival to people all over the world.
Passage: People around the world began to contact the small villages of Konkan. More and more villagers came forward to do this work and the number of ‘homestay’ families went up to 35. As many as eight hundred people began to visit Velas in the Turtle Season. This meant more business for the villagers. Now they realised that tourism can be a source of income. Tourists bring in money, and in order to earn that money, it was important to protect the turtle hatchlings. This was ‘Conservation of Nature through Livelihood’ in its true sense. Velas became the project’s main success story.
Word Meaning
Livelihood: A person’s means of earning a living.
Explanation: People from all over the world started visiting the small villages of Konkan. More and more villagers wanted to be part of this, and the number of families offering homestay (where tourists can stay in their homes) increased to 35. During the Turtle Season, about 800 people came to Velas. This meant the villagers made more money. They realized that tourism could be a good way to earn money. Tourists bring money, and to earn that money, it was important to protect the baby turtles. This was ‘Conservation of Nature through Livelihood’, a perfect example of protecting nature while also making a living. Velas became the most successful part of this project.
Passage: Sahyadri Nisarg Mitra, our organisation believed that it is only the local villagers who can ultimately offer excellent protection to the local species. If they are given the freedom to do that, the conservation projects became sustainable. With this belief, we entrusted the project to the Forest Department, the Gram Panchayat, the villagers and their Turtle Friends Club. All of them are handling it wonderfully. Now we are happy to see the project running smoothly and offer help only when necessary.
Word Meaning
Sustainable: This means something that can continue for a long time without harming the environment or using up resources too quickly.
Entrusted: To give someone the responsibility or duty to do something.
Explanation: The group, Sahyadri Nisarg Mitra, thinks that the best way to protect local animals is to let the people who live nearby take care of them. If we give them the chance, they can make sure the animals are safe for a long time. So, the author and his team put the project in the hands of the Forest Department, the local government, the villagers, and their Turtle Friends Club. They were doing a great job together. Now, the author was happy to see it going well and the team only helped when necessary.