Thousands of turtles die while trying to reach Indian coast

The Olive Ridley turtle is heading for land at this time of year, to make the trek up beaches to lay it's eggs. But in one of their major nesting areas, thousands have been killed before even reaching the shore. Intangling fishing nets and fatal propeller injuries from illegal fishing trawlers have been responsible for an estimated 1,300 turtle deaths in the last few days.
Officals estimate many more will die before the end of the laying season, as they suspected 50,000 died last year at the same time, but feel powerless to stop illegal fishing in the area where nesting is taking place. The high casualties may drive this turtle to extinction.