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Where Olive Ridleys beckon
Baby Olive Ridley turtles finding their way into the sea at Rishikulya
The sleepy beach at Rishikulya near Berhempur in Orissa buzzes with activity during March-May when lakhs of Olive Ridley turtles visit it for mass hatching, making the place acquire international fame.
Hundreds of nature watchers, environmental activists, scientists and voluntary organisations throng the beach to watch the hatching of this highly endangered species.
The sea turtles reach the shore during their mating season, December-January. After breeding, while the male returns to the deep waters, the female comes ashore for nesting. It makes a 2-3 feet deep pit on the shore, lays 125 to 150 eggs, closes the pit without leaving any trace of eggs and returns to the sea within a few hours.
The eggs hatch after 45 days. As hatchlings cannot survive for too long on the ground, they immediately go into the sea only to return for nesting after 25 to 30 years!
"Hatching took place on April 28 this year. It was a sight to watch lakhs of hatchlings crawl into the sea. Hatching was delayed by nearly three days this year due to rain,'' said M. Rama Murthy, secretary of the Dolphin Nature Conservation Society.
Interestingly, an Olive Ridley that was tagged in the Philippines, was spotted during mass nesting at Rishikulya beach this year throwing more light on the possible migratory routes of these species.
The Visakhapatnam-based society has been watching the exciting phenomenon for the last four years and creating awareness among people about the need to conserve the species.
Dr. Rama Murthy has expressed concern over the number of sea turtles coming to Rishikulya for hatching dwindling from 7.5 lakhs to 2.5 lakhs in the last eight years. Also, the mortality rate of sea turtles and their hatchlings has been rising.
Though the Orissa Government banned trawling near breeding areas during December-April, it was observed more in its breach. "Deep-sea trawlers also refuse to use the turtle-excluding device (TED) to save turtles from getting trapped in their nets. The society members have noticed 350 dead turtles between Bhimili and Pudimadaka due to trapping in trawler nets.''
G. Prudhvi Raj of the Wildlife Wing said that many hatchlings, instead of going into the sea, moved away towards the coast as they were misled by the illumination along the coast and got killed. The Government arranged a net to prevent the movement away from the sea. The net needed to be extended by two more kilometres to cover the entire area of hatching, he felt.
Volunteers of the Rushikulya Sea Turtle Protection Committee monitored the hatching area to check predation of eggs by juveniles, feral animals and crows.
Dr. Rama Murthy felt the need to promote eco-tourism on a scientific basis to increase awareness to protect this highly endangered species.
By Venkateswara Rao M
in Visakhapatnam
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