Odisha’s Gahirmatha beach to witness mass nesting of Olive Ridleys in March

Kendrapara: Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary officials have spotted over 50 endangered olive ridley sea turtle nests on the beaches of Gahirmatha, Rajnagar mangrove forest and wildlife Division DFO Bikash Ranjan Dash said.

The DFO said the nests were spotted last week.

Mr.Dash said he was optimistic that  there is every possibility  that the mass nesting phenomenon of the endangered marine turtle would occur  in the first week of March.

Meanwhile, lakhs of Olive Ridley sea turtles were congregated within three kilometer distance from the sea coast, he said.

The sea along with beach condition at Nasi 2 is conducive for mass nesting though the temperature of sand has reduced a little in the last two days.

It is expected that during full moon day, the temperature will rise and would be accurate for turtle’s to lay eggs.

In the ongoing turtle season, the turtles’ death toll is on the lower side at Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary than last year due to the vigil and surveillance on trawler fishing.

So far 420 turtle carcasses washed ashore to the beach till date, the DFO said.

The   Marine Fishery Department has imposed a ban on fishing activities inside the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary of Kendrapara district around 20 km off the shore from last November 1, 2019 to May 31, 2020.

Over four lakh endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles came to the golden beaches of Gahirmatha Marine sanctuary, the largest rookery of the species, for laying eggs within a span of seven days from last March 14 to March 21 last year. (UNI)