Chapter- 2.2              A True Story of Sea Turtles       


1. Question: What is the title of the passage?

Answer: The title of the passage is “Protect the turtles and enrich the seas!”

2. Question: Where did this project take place?

Answer: The project took place in Velas, a village in the Konkan region of Maharashtra.

3. Question: What was the main aim of the project?

Answer: The main aim was to protect the turtle hatchlings and conserve marine life.

4. Question: Who started this project?

Answer: The project was started by an organisation called Sahyadri Nisarg Mitra.

5. Question: What did the organisation believe in?

Answer: It believed that only local villagers can provide excellent protection to the local species.

6. Question: What does the term ‘homestay families’ mean?

Answer: ‘Homestay families’ are villagers who offer accommodation and food to tourists in their homes.

7. Question: How many families later became ‘homestay’ families?

Answer: The number of ‘homestay’ families increased to 35.

8. Question: How many tourists started visiting Velas during Turtle Season?

Answer: About 800 people started visiting Velas during Turtle Season.

9. Question: What did the increase in tourists bring to the village?

Answer: It brought more business and income to the villagers.

10. Question: What did the villagers realize through this project?

Answer: They realized that tourism can be a good source of income.

11. Question: What was necessary to earn money from tourism?

Answer: Protecting the turtle hatchlings was necessary to attract tourists and earn money.

12. Question: What was this initiative called?

Answer: It was called “Conservation of Nature through Livelihood.”

13. Question: Why was the project successful?

Answer: Because local people became actively involved and took responsibility for conservation.

14. Question: What did Velas become after the project’s success?

Answer: Velas became the main success story of the project.

15. Question: Who were the main participants in this project?

Answer: The Forest Department, the Gram Panchayat, the villagers, and their Turtle Friends Club.

16. Question: Why was the project entrusted to local people?

Answer: Because local people understand their environment best and can offer sustainable protection.

17. Question: What is meant by “Conservation of Nature through Livelihood”?

Answer: It means protecting nature while earning a living from it.

18. Question: What is the Turtle Friends Club?

Answer: It is a group of villagers who help protect turtle eggs and hatchlings.

19. Question: How does tourism help in conservation?

Answer: Tourism provides income that motivates people to protect wildlife and nature.

20. Question: What did the villagers learn from this experience?

Answer: They learned that protecting nature can bring both pride and income.

21. Question: Who is Bhau Katdare?

Answer: Bhau Katdare is a representative of the Sahyadri Nisarg Mitra organisation.

22. Question: What does Bhau Katdare say about the project now?

Answer: He says the project is running smoothly, and they help only when necessary.

23. Question: How did the villagers benefit from tourists?

Answer: Villagers earned money by offering food, lodging, and local experiences to visitors.

24. Question: What did the success of this project prove?

Answer: It proved that environmental conservation and livelihood can go hand in hand.

25. Question: Who helped the project besides the villagers?

Answer: The Forest Department and the Gram Panchayat helped the project.

26. Question: What happens during Turtle Season?

Answer: During Turtle Season, turtles come to the shore to lay eggs and their babies hatch.

27. Question: How did villagers feel after the project succeeded?

Answer: They felt proud and happy to protect nature and earn from it.

28. Question: What role does the organisation play now?

Answer: The organisation now supervises and provides help only when required.

29. Question: Why is the project considered sustainable?

Answer: Because local people take ownership, ensuring long-term protection of the species.

30. Question: What message does this project give us?

Answer: It teaches us that protecting nature benefits both people and the environment.