Berhampur: Forest officials in Ganjam district are taking strict measures to protect the eggs laid by Olive Ridley turtles near the Rushikulya river mouth in a rookery during the four-day mass nesting period that ended on March 20.The entire 5km-long stretch has been fenced to prevent the entry of wild animals, while forest staff are guarding the area round-the-clock. “As many as 40 personnel have been engaged for this purpose. They are guarding the eggs on a shift basis,” Dibya Shankar Behera, assistant conservator of forests (Khallikote range), said.He added patrolling has also been intensified in the area to keep away predators and to protect the eggs.
“The entire beach area was cleaned to facilitate the smooth journey of baby turtles to the sea,” he said.Over 2.05 lakh Olive Ridleys laid eggs during their mass nesting period which started from March 15. “The hatchlings generally emerged after 45 to 50 days of nesting. Sometimes, it was extended 50 to 60 days, depending on the condition of the weather and beach,” Rabinadra Nath Sahu, secretary of Rushikulya sea turtle protection committee, said.
Sahu has been monitoring the nesting and hatching activities in the rookery for the past several years.The baby turtles would emerge from the pits after the sand became soft. More female Olive Ridley turtles are likely hatching in the Rushikulya river mouth rookery this year due to the delay in mass nesting and rise in temperature, according to experts.Last year, a record number of over 9.04 lakh Olive Ridley turtles had laid eggs in the rookery in two phases – from Feb 15 to 22 in the first phase and from March 21 to 27 in second phase. This year’s figure of mass nesting was recorded lowest in the last 10 years. In 2015, a lowest number of 3.09 lakh turtles had laid eggs in the rookery, official sources said.
