Puri, Jan 20: As many as 166 rare sea turtles were found dead on Puri beach near Lighthouse this morning.
According to the sources, the turtles might have been killed by trawlers operating illegally in the sea.
The forest department could only say the exact reason behind such mass deaths, added sources.
Recently, scores of whales were washed ashore on the Chennai beach. Despite all efforts by fishermen, at least 45 of them died while the rest were rescued and put back in the sea.
A carcass of a Bottlenose dolphin was also found among the dead sea turtles dotting the shoreline.
