Mass nesting of Olive Ridley sea turtles began on Odisha coast, unusually earlier by a fortnight.
Mass nesting of Olive Ridley sea turtles began on Odisha coast, unusually earlier by a fortnight. While mass nesting of these turtles has been noticed on the Rushikulya river mouth in Ganjam district, sporadic nesting was also seen along Gahirmatha coast, world’s largest nesting place for Olive Ridleys.
Over 6000 female Olive Ridley selected the 3.5-km long stretch from Purunabandh to Podampeta on the Rushikulya Mouth to lay eggs. Listed under Schedule 1 of the endangered species list these Olive Ridleys climbed ashore and laid eggs by digging the sandy beach. Besides, the river Rushikulya mouth and Gahiramatha, mass nesting of Olive Ridleys has also been seen at Devi river mouth near Astaranga on the Odisha coast.
Earlier wildlife experts were apprehensive about the mass nesting as the four-km long site of the rookery was submerged due to the diversion of the river Rushikulya. The Rushikulya mouth is considered as the second largest nesting place of Olive Ridleys.
"The mass nesting stared around a fortnight ahead of last year. We expect this will continue for next some days," said a divisional forest officer keeping a careful eye on the annual phenomenon. When asked why these turtles chose to lay eggs earlier by a fortnight he could not explain, only said, "We can't say. It's nature's wish."
Forest officials made elaborate arrangements for smooth and safe nesting on the beach. The entire area was divided into 32 sectors. Forest personnel and volunteers have been deployed in each sector for counting the eggs. Mass nesting was reported in 13 sectors, a senior officer said. They also provided protection to the eggs in absence of mother turtles, the officer said.
Last year mass nesting of the Olive Ridleys had started on February 29 and continued for about three days. Around 1.07 lakh turtles had laid the eggs in the Rushikulya mouth rookery last year. After laying eggs, the female turtles go back to the deep sea without waiting to see the hatchlings, which generally emerge around 45 days of nesting.
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