In a first, Olive Ridley turtle lays eggs in Odisha’s Blue Flag beach

In a rare and encouraging development for marine conservation, an Olive Ridley sea turtle laid eggs for the first time at the Blue Flag beach in Puri, official sources said on Sunday.

Also Read: Odisha imposes seven-month coastal fishing ban ahead of Olive Ridley breeding season

According to sources, the turtle arrived at the beach late on Saturday night and laid as many as 114 eggs. Beach staff closely monitored the site overnight to ensure the eggs remained safe. The following morning, the eggs were handed over to officials of the Odisha Forest Department for further protection and care.

The incident has generated excitement among the wildlife enthusiasts and conservation authorities, as it marks the first recorded instance of an Olive Ridley turtle nesting at the Blue Flag beach in Puri.

To support the safe nesting of Olive Ridley turtles along the coastline, the authorities have already established at least 13 hatcheries from the Devi River mouth to Puri. These hatcheries are designed to protect the eggs until they hatch.

Forest officials have also taken extensive measures along the coast to ensure that the turtles can safely reach the shore and lay their eggs without disturbance, strengthening ongoing efforts to protect this vulnerable marine species.

However, no comments were received from the district Forest Department in this regard.

Worth mentioning, much ahead of the nesting season, the Odisha government had previously imposed a seven-month fishing ban along its coast from November 1 last year. The decision aimed to ensure safe breeding and nesting of the endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles.

The seven-month-long ban on marine fishing along Odisha’s coast will remain effective till May 31.

According to the directive, fishing within 20 kilometres of the coastline had been strictly prohibited to safeguard the rare species. The ban also extends to the river mouths of Rushikulya, Dhamra, and Devi rivers, which are among the three major mass nesting sites along the coast of Odisha for the Olive Ridley turtles.

Reported By: Somnath