Entry curbs on 5km stretch along Rushikulya river mouth to protect Ridley eggs | Bhubaneswar News
Berhampur: Forest officials have restricted entry along a 5-km stretch from Gokharakuda to Bateswar near the Rushikulya river mouth in Ganjam district to protect Olive Ridley turtle eggs. The move comes after a record 6.98 lakh female turtles laid eggs last month.
“After re-fencing the area, we have made the beach a ‘no-entry zone’ for the safety of eggs,” said assistant conservator of forests (Khallikote), Dibya Shankar Behera. A total of 6,98,718 Olive Ridley turtles had laid eggs on the beach during mass nesting from Feb 16 to 23. Hatchlings will emerge from the eggs after 45-50 days, turtle experts said.
As mass nesting of Olive Ridley turtles began on time due to favourable weather conditions, experts expected a good number of hatchlings to emerge from the eggs. They urged the forest officials to take care of the eggs from predators like jackal, wild boar, wild dog and birds.
“Forest officials should take necessary measures to protect the eggs till the hatchlings emerge,” said Basudev Tripathy, a turtle expert and senior scientist of Zoological Survey of India (ZSI).
Behera said all necessary measures have been taken to protect the eggs in the rookery. “Over 140 personnel, including local volunteers, have been engaged to guard the eggs round-the-clock. They have been provided whistles and torchlights for night patrolling. The entire stretch has been divided into 50 sectors with the personnel deployed sector-wise,” he added.
He said patrolling in the sea is also continuing as several turtles are in deep sea. “At least three boats, one provided by Gopalpur port authorities, have been pressed into service. Patrolling will continue till the end of May,” he said.
Experts are predicting a second phase of mass nesting in the rookery this year.
Berhampur: Forest officials have restricted entry along a 5-km stretch from Gokharakuda to Bateswar near the Rushikulya river mouth in Ganjam district to protect Olive Ridley turtle eggs. The move comes after a record 6.98 lakh female turtles laid eggs last month.
“After re-fencing the area, we have made the beach a ‘no-entry zone’ for the safety of eggs,” said assistant conservator of forests (Khallikote), Dibya Shankar Behera. A total of 6,98,718 Olive Ridley turtles had laid eggs on the beach during mass nesting from Feb 16 to 23. Hatchlings will emerge from the eggs after 45-50 days, turtle experts said.
As mass nesting of Olive Ridley turtles began on time due to favourable weather conditions, experts expected a good number of hatchlings to emerge from the eggs. They urged the forest officials to take care of the eggs from predators like jackal, wild boar, wild dog and birds.
“Forest officials should take necessary measures to protect the eggs till the hatchlings emerge,” said Basudev Tripathy, a turtle expert and senior scientist of Zoological Survey of India (ZSI).
Behera said all necessary measures have been taken to protect the eggs in the rookery. “Over 140 personnel, including local volunteers, have been engaged to guard the eggs round-the-clock. They have been provided whistles and torchlights for night patrolling. The entire stretch has been divided into 50 sectors with the personnel deployed sector-wise,” he added.
He said patrolling in the sea is also continuing as several turtles are in deep sea. “At least three boats, one provided by Gopalpur port authorities, have been pressed into service. Patrolling will continue till the end of May,” he said.
Experts are predicting a second phase of mass nesting in the rookery this year.
“After re-fencing the area, we have made the beach a ‘no-entry zone’ for the safety of eggs,” said assistant conservator of forests (Khallikote), Dibya Shankar Behera. A total of 6,98,718 Olive Ridley turtles had laid eggs on the beach during mass nesting from Feb 16 to 23. Hatchlings will emerge from the eggs after 45-50 days, turtle experts said.
As mass nesting of Olive Ridley turtles began on time due to favourable weather conditions, experts expected a good number of hatchlings to emerge from the eggs. They urged the forest officials to take care of the eggs from predators like jackal, wild boar, wild dog and birds.
“Forest officials should take necessary measures to protect the eggs till the hatchlings emerge,” said Basudev Tripathy, a turtle expert and senior scientist of Zoological Survey of India (ZSI).
Behera said all necessary measures have been taken to protect the eggs in the rookery. “Over 140 personnel, including local volunteers, have been engaged to guard the eggs round-the-clock. They have been provided whistles and torchlights for night patrolling. The entire stretch has been divided into 50 sectors with the personnel deployed sector-wise,” he added.
He said patrolling in the sea is also continuing as several turtles are in deep sea. “At least three boats, one provided by Gopalpur port authorities, have been pressed into service. Patrolling will continue till the end of May,” he said.
Experts are predicting a second phase of mass nesting in the rookery this year.
Berhampur: Forest officials have restricted entry along a 5-km stretch from Gokharakuda to Bateswar near the Rushikulya river mouth in Ganjam district to protect Olive Ridley turtle eggs. The move comes after a record 6.98 lakh female turtles laid eggs last month.
“After re-fencing the area, we have made the beach a ‘no-entry zone’ for the safety of eggs,” said assistant conservator of forests (Khallikote), Dibya Shankar Behera. A total of 6,98,718 Olive Ridley turtles had laid eggs on the beach during mass nesting from Feb 16 to 23. Hatchlings will emerge from the eggs after 45-50 days, turtle experts said.
As mass nesting of Olive Ridley turtles began on time due to favourable weather conditions, experts expected a good number of hatchlings to emerge from the eggs. They urged the forest officials to take care of the eggs from predators like jackal, wild boar, wild dog and birds.
“Forest officials should take necessary measures to protect the eggs till the hatchlings emerge,” said Basudev Tripathy, a turtle expert and senior scientist of Zoological Survey of India (ZSI).
Behera said all necessary measures have been taken to protect the eggs in the rookery. “Over 140 personnel, including local volunteers, have been engaged to guard the eggs round-the-clock. They have been provided whistles and torchlights for night patrolling. The entire stretch has been divided into 50 sectors with the personnel deployed sector-wise,” he added.
He said patrolling in the sea is also continuing as several turtles are in deep sea. “At least three boats, one provided by Gopalpur port authorities, have been pressed into service. Patrolling will continue till the end of May,” he said.
Experts are predicting a second phase of mass nesting in the rookery this year.
