Baby Olive Ridley turtles have begun breaking out of egg-shells marking the culmination of the annual rendezvous of these marine species. lakhs of hatchlings over the last two days have began emerging from the egg-shells along a km long tranquil sandy nesting ground at South Nasi, located near the establishment of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) at Wheeler’s Island.
Ranger Subrat Kumar Patra informed the phenomenon was expected to continue for at least three-four more days. The babies broke out of the eggshells and wandered around the sandy beach for nearly an hour before making their way to swirling seawater.
According to Patra, the nesting sites of South Nasi (Nasi-II) and Nasi -I were littered with turtle nests as about 4,13,334 turtles came for mass nesting this year from March 12 to 19. While 21,888 turtles laid eggs in Nasi I during the period, 3,91,446 turtles came to Nasi II for laying eggs.
Although the species are very slow moving on land, they swim very quickly in water and take advantage of ocean currents to assist their migration. Unlike their land based cousins, marine turtles have streamlined shells and paddle -like flippers that can propel them at speed of up to 50 km per hour. As bright lights generally disorient the turtle hatchlings going to the sea, the DRDO has masked the light for a congenial atmosphere.
Notably, to protect the turtle species and the hatchlings, the forest officials have enforced a ban on fishing in the area from November 1 last to May 31.