Visakhapatnam: Four Olive Ridley turtles’ nestings were spotted on the beach here on Wednesday and conservationists are expecting that it would breach the 1,000-mark breaking records.
The forest department has taken up the task of protection and conservation of the endangered turtles and are ensuring funds are aailable for the same through CSR. Five hatcheries installed put up along the beach.
“There is a high chance that the number of turtle nesting sites will increase by over 50 per cent compared to last year. We noticed 700 nesting sites last year, which could cross 1,000 this year,” said Mr Pradeep Nath founder president of the Visakha Society for Protection and Care of Animals.
The forest department is taking their assistance to protect turtles. So far, about 7 lakh hatchlings have been released under such projects.
Asked about the reason, he said, “More than the conservation measures, it is because of the natural phenomenon. Female turtles return to return to the same place every year. That is why the number of turtles coming to the shore is increasing every year from 1996.”
He said the number of eggs in the nest varies on maturity of female turtles; juveniles lay 60-100 eggs which could rise to 200 in case of adults.
“We had only 23 nests 21 years back in 1996 at the RK beach hatchery which jumped to about 700 last time. And, the female turtles coming to the shore would have matured in 16-25 years,” he added.
He expressed concern over activities like terrain vehicle rides and beach entertainment programmes which are scheduled till May. “The ecological disturbance is a threat to the turtles,” he said.
