After baffling absence last year, Olive Ridley turtles to ‘swarm Odisha beach for mass nesting’

The Rushikulya river mouth in Ganjam district is awaiting mass nesting of Olive Ridley turtles this year.

The Pacific ridley sea turtles had skipped Rushikulya last year, something that had baffled turtle researchers. However, the Forest Department has come to know that more than lakhs of Olive Ridleys will come to Rushikulya river mouth this year for mass nesting, known by the Spanish term ‘arribada’.

As per reports, the beach near Rushikulya rookery coast is being cleaned up to prepare it for the nesting season of Olive Ridley turtles. The Forest Department has cleaned the beach from Aryapalli to Gorakhakuda and started 24x7 patrolling to ensure that dogs, jackals, other predators and common people remain away from the places where the Olive Ridleys will lay eggs.

Most importantly, a fishing ban has been imposed on the sea beach covering Prayagi located on the north side of Rushikulya river mouth to Aryapalli located in the south.

As per the Forest Department, the Olive Ridleys are expected to reach the Rushikulya River mouth by February.

“Security measures will be tightened and street lights in the area will be put out to facilitate smooth laying of eggs for the Olive Ridleys. There will also be restrictions on the movement of vehicles in the area,” said a forest official.

Read Also: Saving Olive Ridley turtles: 7-month fishing ban imposed in Odisha’s Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary

The Olive Ridley sea turtles are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 as a Scheduled 1(vulnerable/endangered species) animal.

Notably, a female turtle digs a pit in the sand first and lays eggs. Each female turtle lays around 100 to 150 eggs. They then cover the pit before going back into the sea.

Interestingly, the mother turtles do not wait to see the hatchlings emerge about 40 to 50 days after nesting. It is a rare natural phenomenon where babies grow without their mothers.