Olive Ridley Turtle Hatchlings Make Their Way to the Sea in Odisha!

Exciting News from Ganjam: Olive Ridley Hatchlings Emerge

Ganjam: The Olive Ridley turtles have begun hatching at the Rushikulya river mouth in Odisha's Ganjam district, with thousands of hatchlings emerging from their sandy nests and making their way to the ocean, according to a senior forest official.

The hatching event commenced on Thursday, marking the start of the baby turtles' journey to the sea, as their mothers had already returned to the water after laying the eggs.

"The hatching is occurring as scheduled and is expected to last for the next four to five days. We are doing everything possible to ensure the safety of these hatchlings," stated Dibya Shankar Behera, the Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) overseeing the Khallikote Forest Range.

"This year, we saw a record number of turtles nesting in two phases, so we anticipate a significant number of hatchlings to emerge from the eggs," he added.

During the first phase of nesting from February 16 to 23, approximately 698,000 Olive Ridley turtles laid their eggs along a five-kilometer stretch from Podampeta to Bateswatra. In the second phase, which took place from March 22 to 27, over 205,000 turtles contributed to the nesting.

Local volunteers have joined forces with forest officials to safeguard the hatchlings from potential predators.

"We have installed fencing around the area to keep out predators like wild dogs, jackals, and hyenas," the ACF mentioned.

Additionally, the Forest Department has requested nearby industrial facilities, Gopalpur Port, and local authorities in Ganjam to reduce street lighting at night. This measure aims to prevent the hatchlings from being lured by artificial lights and to help them safely reach the sea.