SAFE RELEASE: (Left) A volunteer shows a stillborn Olive Ridley turtle, and a young one before its release into the water. (Centre and right) Newborn turtles head towards the sea. — Photos: N. Sridharan

CHENNAI: Scores of newborn Olive Ridley turtles entered their natural habitat — the sea — under the watchful eyes of conservationists at Elliots Beach, Besant Nagar, here early on Sunday.

Conservationists said nearly 75 eggs hatched on Sunday alone and most of the young ones were safely released into the waters. But about 25 eggs reportedly did not hatch and some were stillborn.

Volunteers of the Students Sea Turtle Conservation Network (SSTCN) annually collect Olive Ridley turtle eggs from the Besant Nagar coastline upto Neelankarai, a fishing village beyond Tiruvanmiyur.

The eggs are then taken to a hatchery at Oorurkuppam, a fishing village located behind the Theosophical Society premises.

It takes 45 days for the young ones to hatch.

70 nests

The eggs that hatched on Sunday were all collected from the Palavakkam fishing village. SSTCN volunteers said they found about 70 nests this season.

So far, eggs from nearly six nests have hatched at the hatchery and around 400 young ones released into the sea over the last few weeks.

Adhith, a volunteer, said the young ones were usually released at around 3.30 a.m.

A volunteer, who stays in Oorurkuppam fishing village, would visit the hatchery at regular intervals.

Eggs from another 64 nests are being monitored by conservationists. The hatching period would go on till April or mid-May, the volunteers added.

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