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By Manoj Kar
Kendrapara, India — The endangered Olive Ridley turtles have commenced their annual rendezvous to Gahirmatha marine sanctuary for mass nesting since past 24 hours night with thousands of female turtles invading the nesting beach for laying eggs.
The marine species have reappeared on the sandy beaches of south eastern portion in Nasi-2 Island, in close proximity to Defence Research Development Organization's defence installation at Wheeler's Island , said forest officials.
As the territory where turtles have congregated to lay eggs is very close to the prohibited defence project, there are none to witness this unique natural phenomenon.
Under DRDO directions, visitors and outsiders are stopped from making their way to the place. Only forest personnel on turtle protection duty have access to the nesting ground, said forest officials.
About 35,000 turtles have invaded the beach to lay eggs. Once the mass nesting picks up in coming days, the figure would go up. Last year, 1.70 lakh turtles had turned up while the species had skipped the annual visit during 2008 year.
Forest officials said about till now 35,000 female turtles were engrossed in en masse laying of eggs since yesterday evening on the sandy beaches of Nasi-2 Island off Gahirmatha coast.
The arribada would continue for at least five days and the number of these visiting marine creatures would gradually increase, according to wildlife personnel of Bhitarkanika National Park .
“It's a virtual treat to watch as these species made their nocturnal visits. Emerging from the seawaters, they headed towards the sandy beaches generating some kind of noise. It is unfolding a soothing cacophony,” narrated an official on turtle protection duty.
The turtles loitered around the serene beach for quite a while before locating their preferred places to lay eggs. Digging out pits, they laid eggs. The species stayed over an hour at the nesting ground before commencing their seaward journey.
About 50 forest personnel are deployed on the beach to keep vigil and to ensure the safe and undisturbed mass nesting of turtle species.
The presence of humans on the nesting ground did not bother the turtles. They moved past the forest guards at hand-shaking distance. The tranquil beach has seemingly come alive with these nocturnal visitors, officials narrated.
Round-the-cloak vigil is on to ensure the safe arribada and to keep the predators like wild dogs at bay, they said.
An Olive Ridley usually lays about 120 to 150 eggs from which hatchlings emerge after about 45 to 50 days. But not all eggs remain intact as predators devour it.
Besides, eggs are also washed away by sea waves during high tide. The eggs are incubated in the nest and grow, sans mother, to emerge as hatchlings.
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