Olive Ridley turtles are back on the beaches of Konkan coast

Representation pic. Pic/iStock

In some good news for nature lovers, the much-awaited nesting season of Olive Ridley turtles on the beaches of Konkan coast has begun. Till now, the forest department has been able to locate around 18 nesting sites.

Confirming the same, Clement Ben, chief conservator of forest, Kolhapur said, "We have found a total of 12 nesting sites of the Olive Ridley turtle in Kudal range, of which 11 are on Vengurla beach and one is on Malwan beach. Our staff is taking the best possible effort to protect the nests. In Dapoli range, we have found a total of eight nests and seven hatcheries and a total 817 eggs. The beaches include, Anjale, Kelashi, Karde, Murud, Dabhol, Kolthare, and Ladghar velas." In Chiplun range, the forest department has found two nests and three hatcheries with 160 eggs. The Ratnagiri range also saw two nests and three hatcheries with 171 eggs.

The mTurtle mobile app, which has been developed by NGO Sahyadri Nisarg Mitra and Mangrove Foundation, is also helping with better documentation.

Mohan Upadhye, naturalist and wildlife conservationist, said, "When we find these nests, we make sure that the eggs are properly protected. Sometimes depending on the location of the nesting sites, a decision is taken to move the nest to a safer location, which we call a hatchery. The area surrounding the hatchery is fenced using sticks and nets so that the eggs are not destroyed by anyone. On every beach two people are posted for the protection of these nests and hatcheries." High tide and wave currents also pose a threat to the nests. A female turtle releases 100-150 eggs at a time, burying them inside sand pits along the beaches; it takes around 45 to 55 days for the eggs to hatch.

Every year Olive Ridley turtle hatchlings are released into the sea through a turtle conservation programme undertaken by the Forest Department, along with the help of various gram panchayats where turtle nesting sites are found.

According to forest department officials, there are six beaches in Sindhudurg, four in Raigad and 13 beaches in Ratnagiri where the turtles have nesting sites. The nesting season begins between November and March every year.