UDUPI: FSL India, international voluntary organisation working towards turtle conservation in association with department of forest and local fishermen community have initiated the task of conserving around 100 eggs of Olive Ridley sea turtles at Kodi beach, some 35-kms from here. Fishermen Babu Mogaveera and Ganapathi Kharvi who spotted the eggs near the Kodi lighthouse on Friday informed the department and FSL India members.
Venkatesh Moodkeri, senior programme manager, FSL India told TOI that Kodi in addition to Maravanthe and Navunda are the regular spots along the coast where these sea turtles come to lay their eggs. This has been a constant phenomenon for the past decade except for last year when we did not find any, he said. Sightings of egg nests are gradually on the wane, he said adding sea turtles normally lay eggs after the monsoon high tide.
The sea turtles normally prefer an area where there is salt content in the sand that acts as a natural defence barrier against predatory ants, he said. The stakeholders have constructed a hatchery for these eggs and the site will be under constant supervision for the next 40-days and on a 24-hour vigil for the 12-days thereafter. The Olive Ridley sea turtles hatch around the 52nd day and this vigil is needed to ensure their safety, Moodkeri said.
The Olive Ridley Sea Turtle that lays the eggs before heading back to the Sea does its best to cover the flipper track marks to ensure the safety of the eggs. Since these are endangered species, the forest department assists FSL India and the local stakeholders in their conservation. With 1 in 1000 sea turtles hatched surviving, Moodkeri said it is interesting that the turtle that braves the odds comes back as an adult to lay eggs at the very same spot that it was born.
Ashish Reddy, deputy conservator of forest, Kundapur said it is for the first time since 2017 that eggs of Olive Ridley Sea turtle have been spotted at Kodi beach and this is a matter of happiness for marine life watchers and conservationists. Every step will be taken to ensure their safety and a hatchery has been set up to protect the eggs. The department will initiate strict action against anyone trying to destroy these eggs, Reddy warned.