BERHAMPUR: With the breeding season on, the surface of the sea near Rushikulya river mouth is brimming with Olive Ridley turtles. It is one of the biggest rookeries for the sea creatures in the state and lies about 45km from here in Ganjam district.
"Countless pairs of Olive Ridley sea turtles mating on the surface of the water, marking the beginning of the nesting season of the endangered turtle species, is a sight to behold," said divisional forest officer (Berhampur) Ashish Kumar Behera.
After nesting, the female turtles swim ashore to lay eggs by digging pits in the sand. The female turtles return to the sea, while the hatchlings emerge 45 to 50 days after nesting. The female turtles do not wait to see the hatchlings and go back to the sea after laying the eggs.
"We hope the Olive Ridley turtles turn up in large numbers like the previous year as the beach from Gokharakuda to Purunabandh has widened naturally," Behera said. The mass nesting of Olive Ridley turtles is likely to take place in the third week of February. A record number of over 3.70 lakh Olive Ridley turtles had laid eggs near the Rushikulya river mouth in a mass nesting that took place from February 14 to 22 this year.
Apart from mass nesting of Olive Ridleys on a four-kilometre stretch from Purunabandh to Gokharakuda, thousands of the endangered species had laid eggs on a two-kilometre stretch from Podampeta to New Podampeta area.
Besides river Rushikulya, Olive Ridley turtles also visit Gahiramatha and Devi river mouth near Astaranga in Puri district every year for mass nesting.
The DFO said nine protection units have been set up off Ganjam coast to ensure that the Olive Ridley turtles can mate peacefully.
"Countless pairs of Olive Ridley sea turtles mating on the surface of the water, marking the beginning of the nesting season of the endangered turtle species, is a sight to behold," said divisional forest officer (Berhampur) Ashish Kumar Behera.
After nesting, the female turtles swim ashore to lay eggs by digging pits in the sand. The female turtles return to the sea, while the hatchlings emerge 45 to 50 days after nesting. The female turtles do not wait to see the hatchlings and go back to the sea after laying the eggs.
"We hope the Olive Ridley turtles turn up in large numbers like the previous year as the beach from Gokharakuda to Purunabandh has widened naturally," Behera said. The mass nesting of Olive Ridley turtles is likely to take place in the third week of February. A record number of over 3.70 lakh Olive Ridley turtles had laid eggs near the Rushikulya river mouth in a mass nesting that took place from February 14 to 22 this year.
Apart from mass nesting of Olive Ridleys on a four-kilometre stretch from Purunabandh to Gokharakuda, thousands of the endangered species had laid eggs on a two-kilometre stretch from Podampeta to New Podampeta area.
Besides river Rushikulya, Olive Ridley turtles also visit Gahiramatha and Devi river mouth near Astaranga in Puri district every year for mass nesting.
The DFO said nine protection units have been set up off Ganjam coast to ensure that the Olive Ridley turtles can mate peacefully.
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