The mating season for Olive Ridley turtles has commenced near the Rushikulya River mouth in Odisha’s Ganjam district. The district administration has intensified patrolling efforts to protect the vulnerable species from illegal activities, according to forest officials.
Berhampur Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Sunny Khokkar stated that many pairs of turtles have been sighted in the area, and mating activity is expected to significantly increase by the last week of December.
Nesting typically occurs about 45 days after mating. Female turtles will lay their eggs by digging pits in the sand before returning to the sea. The hatchlings are expected to emerge 45-50 days later, the official said.
“We hope Olive Ridley turtles turn up in large numbers this year as well. Mass nesting is expected to take place in the third week of February,” the DFO said.
Last year witnessed a record turnout, with over 9.04 lakh turtles laying eggs across the seven-km stretch from Bateswar to Gokharakuda in two phases of the mass nesting.
As many as 6,98,698 turtles had laid eggs from February 16-23 in the first phase, while 2.05 lakh turtles laid eggs in the second phase from March 16 to 23, sources said.
Patrolling, meanwhile, has been stepped up in the sea to safeguard the mating Olive Ridley turtles from poachers, said Assistant Conservator of Forests, Dibya Shankar Behera.
He also informed about the seizure of two mechanised fishing trawlers from Andhra Pradesh engaged in illegal fishing in the prohibited zone.
Fishing by mechanised trawlers is banned within 20 km of the coast from November 1 to May 31 to facilitate the turtles’ congregation for mass nesting during the period.
The forest department has also held a coordination meeting with local fishermen to secure their cooperation during the crucial mating, nesting, and hatching periods at the Rushikulya River rookery.
The fishermen have requested that the compensation provided during the fishing ban period be doubled, from Rs 15,000 to Rs 30,000.
