Over 2 Lakh Olive Ridleys Return To Odisha’s Gahirmatha For Mass Nesting; Less Fatalities This Year

Bhubaneswar: More than 2 lakh olive ridley turtles have turned up for their annual sojourn of mass nesting at Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary in Odisha’s Kendrapara district in the last 10 days.

According to official sources, 2,03,635 sea turtles have been spawning at Nasi-2 island of the sanctuary since the process began on March 8.

While 300 olive ridleys laid eggs on March 8, 800 on March 9, 1250 on March 10, 7940 on March 11, 425 on March 12, 210 on March 13, 18350 on March 14, 32560 on March 15, 72600 on March 16 and 69200 on March 17.

Following measures for the protection of the endangered marine species and their habitats, the number of deaths of Olive Ridley sea turtles along the Odisha coast has also come down this year.

Also Read: Activists Clear Gahirmatha Beach For Olive Ridley Nesting In Odisha

Around 2,575 carcasses of Olive Ridleys have been counted in the current year so far, against 6,320 fatalities reported in the 2019-20 nesting season.

The Orissa High Court had recently directed the state government to enforce a prohibition on fishing activities by trawlers near the Devi river mount and along the coast to protect the marine species.

Also Read: Prohibit Fishing Around Turtle Nesting Sites: Orissa HC To State Govt