Olive Ridley Turtles Begin Nesting at World's Largest Rookery

Sporadic nesting of the endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles has commenced at Gahirmatha beach, recognized as the world's largest rookery. Over the past three days, approximately 40 turtles have laid eggs on the Nasi-1 and Nasi-2 islands within the Gahirmatha marine sanctuary. Forest officials are maintaining a high alert as more turtles are anticipated to arrive for mass nesting, which may begin within two to three weeks.

To ensure the safety of the eggs, forest officials have established hatcheries at Aagarnasi, Pentha, Madali, and Babubali beaches. These facilities are secured with plastic nets to prevent predators like dogs, jackals, wild boars, and birds from accessing the eggs. The department is actively collecting eggs from natural pits and transferring them to these protected hatcheries. This year's early sporadic nesting suggests that mass nesting, known as 'arribada,' could occur sooner than usual.

Protective measures are robust, including a seven-month ban on all fishing activities from November 1 to May 31. Since November 1, authorities have apprehended 337 marine fishermen and seized 37 fishing vessels for illegal fishing within the sanctuary, confiscating approximately 307.25 quintals of fish valued at around Rs 39 lakh. These efforts aim to protect the Olive Ridley species, a key reason for Gahirmatha's designation as a marine sanctuary in 1997. Additionally, bright lights at the Integrated Missile Testing Centre on Abdul Kalam Island have been switched off to prevent disorientation of nesting females and hatchlings. The sanctuary's boundary has been demarcated with 14 floating buoys across its 1,435 sq km area.