One of the world’s most spectacular sights — ‘arribada’ (Spanish word meaning “arrival”) referring to Olive Ridley Turtles, in its largest known rookery at Gahirmatha beach in Odisha, may be losing out to environmental challenges.
The marine turtles start coming to the sea close to the river mouth during the months of October-November for mating. The annual event of mass nesting usually takes place between January and March every year. However, the conservationists are disappointed at the delay of this event this year.
Even though, the turtles have skipped nesting on the beach several times in the past, the case this year is different. According to Kedar Kumar Swain, Divisional Forest Officer, Rajnagar Mangrove (wildlife) Forest Division, “large congregations of female turtles are present in the mouth of the river and the nearby sea for mating. But the annual activity of mass nesting that catapults Gahirmatha in the international wildlife map is yet to take place.”
Experts fear that geographical changes caused due to rapid erosion of the coast may be the cause for delay. According to them, this alarming rate of erosion is squeezing the beach that hosts mass nesting of turtles.
If the trend continues, the turtles may have no other option but to abandon the beaches and look for other destinations, they apprehended. To add to the above, regular activities of Dhamra Port could further disturb the turtles.
A section of experts also blamed the regular missile tests conducted by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), under Ministry of Defence. Keeping in mind the nesting season of the marine visitors, the Odisha Government has imposed a ban on fishing in the mouth of the river and within 20 kilometres of the coast. The ban is in effect from November 1, 2013, till the end of May 31, 2014.
However, according to the former member of National Board for Wildlife and turtle conservator, Biswajit Mohanty, “Despite requests from the Odisha Government to the DRDO to restrain from testing missiles during the turtle breeding seasons, test fires are still conducted. This seems to be an act of irresponsibility from the DRDO.”
From November 2013 till date, at least four tests have been carried out by DRDO at Wheeler Island, which is close to the turtle nesting site. The last one of the tests took place on April 11, 2014, in the night, he added.
As per reports, DRDO has plans to carry out more than a dozen such tests in the next 45 days, which is also the turtle breeding season extending up to May 31. The turtles are also troubled due to frequent and illegal movement of trawlers in the prohibited area, experts said.