Bales of Olive Ridley turtles have started arriving at Odisha’s Gahirmatha beach,World’s largest nesting beach of Olive Ridley Sea Turtles for the beginning of their annual breeding season. Crossing thousands of miles in the ocean, almost over 90,000 of the endangered species have turned up here, said a forest official.
Odisha’s Gahirmatha sea shore is globally acclaimed as the largest breeding Ground of this marine spices and each year the shoreline welcomes them in whopping number. Despite being located close to the missile test range centre at Wheeler’s Island, the beach is the most favoured nestling site for the turtles. According to Bimal Prasanna Acharya, the divisional forest officer, Rajnagar Mangrove (wildlife) Division, “The arribada (a Spanish term refering to the mass nesting phenomenon) began on Tuesday night. Approximately 92,053 female turtles were spotted digging pits with flippers to lay eggs.”
The nestling ground is well protected by the forest officials to provide a suitable ground for the purpose. To ensure the safety of the sea creature a 600-metre of area is being barricaded by net. Further the breeding ground is prevented from dogs and jackals to venturing in and the forest officials are keeping a close watch on the beach. Even the visitors to the site of missile test range are also prohibited from an entry. The mass nesting process is anticipated to continue for another five to six days, as said the forest official.
The rate of mortality of these delicate species is quite high. Usually an olive ridley turtle lays about 120 to 150 eggs from which hatchlings emerge after about 45 to 60 days. Since Gahirmatha offers the marine creatures a favourable climate and an ideal beach topography, in future the arrival of this particular species is expected to increase in number which is a good sign for the state tourism as well.
