UDUPI: It was celebration time for the forest department officials and conservationists as they watched the Olive ridley sea turtle hatchlings emerge out from the eggs that were laid on January 24 and January 26 near the Kodi lighthouse in Kundapur, in the early hours of Thursday.
Dr Dinesh Kumar YK, DCF, forest ecology and environment told TOI, we are pleased to record a 95% success rate from the eggs that were laid on January 26. Out of 120 eggs, from one hatchery, 101 hatchlings arrived. This was possible because these eggs are being protected in first of its kind in-situ conservation.
Based on the depth and temperature of the egg-laying, the male and female ratio is decided. Those eggs laid closer to the surface- will be converted to females and those deeper into males. Artificial incubation would lead to a change in this ratio. The hatchlings made their way to the sea as forest officials and conservationists kept a close watch on them. They ensured that no one touched the hatchling and no damage was made to them.
In the hatchery, in which eggs were laid on January 24, 19 hatchlings have emerged. We are expecting more to come, he added.
Organisations such as Clean Kundapura Project, FSL India and Reef watch are supporting this project. A team led by forest officials DCF Ashish Reddy, ACF Lohith and RFO Prabhakar Kulal are monitoring the 11 hatcheries in Kundapur.
Bharath Bangera of the Clean Kundapura project said,” We were yearning for this day since the inception of our group. The change is visible now as we can see turtle nesting and hatchlings on the beaches where it is clean, protected and with minimal human activity. We hope to see positive changes in the mindset of the people living off the coast and especially the fishermen community in maintaining the cleanliness of the beach so that the endangered marine creatures could thrive. We request local groups to come forward and clean beaches in their locality and see the difference,” he added.