Uncertainty looms large over the much awaited mass nesting phenomenon of endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles at the beaches of Gahirmatha.
Though the officials of the Bhitarkanika National Park are optimistic that the mass nesting phenomenon would occur by mid-April, but no sign of it is yet found. Only, 17 turtle nests have been located in the last two days.The forest officials apprehend that the turtles might skip mass nesting this year, given the delay. Forest official sources informed that on Sunday as many as 30 female turtles came to Gahirmatha but only six female turtle laid eggs whereas others skipped from doing it.
According of forest official sources, due to climate change and shrinking of beaches, the turtles might not congregate for the annual nesting and breeding in Gahiramatha under the Bhitarakanika National Park. Over the last couple of years, the sharp shrinkage of the world's largest rookery of Olive Ridleys has raised concerns among the environmentalists. Once a 12 km-long beach, the Gahiramath has been squeezed to over half of its size following massive sea erosion. The nesting grounds mainly at Nasi-I and Nasi-II have shrunk. Nasi -I is now reduced to 2.1 km long. But the fact of worry is that it is divided into at least three short parts, over the last four years.
Apart from the sea erosion, the violent tidal waves have changed the geographical character of the scenic island and are affecting the space of turtle habitat."There are several instances in past when the endangered species came en masse for mass nesting in the third week of April. Hence, we are hopeful that the turtles would throng the beach," said DFO Kedar Kumar Swain of Rajnagar Mangrove (Wildlife) Forest Division.