The sporadic nesting of the Olive Ridley sea turtles at Nasi beach within Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary has started over last few days as more than a dozen female sea turtles were sighted near the beach, which came to lay eggs.
Rajnagar Mangrove and Wildlife division DFO Kedar Kumar Swain said the forest personnel have made necessary arrangements for safe nesting of the turtles. Sea patrolling has been tightened along the coast in order to provide a congenial and tranquil atmosphere for the endangered sea turtles, he said. According to official sources, in last couple of days about 20 nests were sighted at Nasi-II island whereas about a dozen of nests were spotted at Nasi-I island.
It is purely immature to say whether the mass nesting would occur early or it would be delayed at Gahirmatha marine sanctuary. But the forest personnel are optimistic that the nesting would occur within a month, the DFO revealed.
The forest department has set up 13 onshore camps and two off shore camps, including Babubali and Agarnashi and two long rang telescopes, which could cover 10 km distance at the off shore camps to restrict the illegal entry of trawlers to the sanctuary. Besides, the Bhitarkanika forest officials have imposed a ban order on fishing activities around 20 km off the shore from November 1, 2013 to May 31.