Odisha

Over 3 Lakh Olive Ridleys Lay Eggs In 2 Days At Gahirmatha In Odisha’s Kendrapada

By
OB Bureau

Kendrapada: With over 3 lakh Olive Ridley sea turtles already laying eggs at Gahirmatha in Odisha’s Kendrapada district, the Forest officials are looking forward to a new record this year.

According to Forest department sources, the Olive Ridleys started arriving at Gahirmatha marine sanctuary for sporadic nesting from January this year. A month after, thousands of the sea turtles were spotted mating in the sea while they were on their annual sojourn for mass nesting at Gahirmatha beach.

In first two days of mass nesting on March 9 and 10, total 3,02,058 Olive Ridleys have laid eggs on the sea beach of Gahirmatha. While 88,000 Olive Ridleys laid eggs on March 9, as many as 2,14,058 of them laid eggs next day, the official sources said.

The Forest department has taken adequate security measures for protection of Oive Ridleys and their eggs from predatory animals and poachers. “Forest personnel are on high alert to protect the turtles and their eggs from predators like dogs, jackals, wild boars, and birds,” said Gahirmatha Forest Range officer Manas Das.

The Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) has switched off bright lights at the integrated missile testing centre at the nearby Abdul Kalam island for the safe arrival of the turtles.

Notably, the government has banned fishing in Gahirmatha for seven months from November 1, 2022 to May 31 this year to save the endangered marine species.

As many as 5,01,157 Olive Ridley turtles had laid eggs at Gahirmatha in 2021-22, 3,49,649 in 2020-21 and 4,07,204 in 2019-20. The Forest officials expect that the number of Olive Ridleys may cross the last year’s figure.

OB Bureau

Recent Posts

Another Stone Falls From Jagannath Temple At Khallikote In Odisha’s Ganjam

Berhampur: A stone weighing 2 kg fell from the ‘Singhadwara Gumuta’ of the Lord Jagannath…

November 14, 2024

Sunita Williams Dismisses Rumours About Weight Loss, Explains Her ‘Sunken Cheeks’

New Delhi: Recent pictures of Space Station Commander Sunita Williams from the International Space Station…

November 14, 2024

Payal Rohatgi Calls Out Rupali Ganguly For Dating A Married Man

Mumbai: Actress Rupali Ganguly recently filed a Rs 50 crore defamation case against her stepdaughter…

November 14, 2024

National Hockey: Odisha To Clash With Manipur In Semifinals

Chennai: Odisha will face Manipur in the semifinals of the 14th Hockey India Senior Men’s…

November 14, 2024

India To Push Canada For Extradition Of Arrested Khalistani Terrorist Arsh Dalla

New Delhi: India will again ask Canada for the extradition of designated Khalistani terrorist Arshdeep Singh…

November 14, 2024

School Dropout From West Bengal Arrested For Practising As Ayurvedic Doctor In Odisha’s Berhampur

Berhampur: Police have arrested a man from West Bengal for allegedly claiming himself to be…

November 14, 2024

Manoj Bajpayee Recalls Staying In ‘Hell’, Experiencing Starvation

Mumbai: Carving a niche for himself in Bollywood was not a cakewalk for ‘The Family…

November 14, 2024

After Disapproving Of Ranveer, Mukesh Khanna Rejects Tiger Shroff For ‘Shakitmaan’

Mumbai: Mukesh Khanna’s Indian superhero series ‘Shaktimaan’ has been making headlines for quite some time…

November 14, 2024