Berhampur: The Ganjam coast witnessed a sudden flurry in activities with the arrival of Olive Ridley turtles on the coast for mass nesting, a report said.
The mass nesting usually takes place over a stretch of five km on the coast from Purunabandh on Rushikulya river mouth to Podampeta and from there to Bateshwar on the coast.
As many as 447 turtles laid eggs on the coast during the last two days with 108 turtles Tuesday night and 339 turtles Wednesday night. The forest department hopes that the mass nesting of turtles would begin anytime soon with the arrival of more number of turtles.
The divisional forest officer (DFO) Ashis Behera said that the turtles after their arrival on the coast look for conducive place in the vicinity for laying eggs. This year after a long gap the turtles have also laid eggs on Bahuda river mouth. He hoped that this year the number of turtles joining the mass nesting might go up to 5 lakh.
The forest officials are taking all steps to provide congenial atmosphere to the sea turtles for their mass nesting and safeguard them from falling prey to wild animals and dogs on the coast.
The arrival of the sea turtles was first witnessed in November when they mated for over months on the coast. The turtles after their mating swam back to the sea.
The mass nesting was expected to start from mid February but change in weather condition has perhaps delayed their mass nesting to February end, the DFO added. Over 4.85 lakh sea turtles participated in mass nesting on the coast last year.
The forest officials have made elaborate arrangements for safe laying of eggs of the sea turtles. A stretch of five-km on the sea coast has been fenced by barbed wires while security personnel have been deployed at 11 places.
The forest, marine police and local police personnel are jointly carrying out patrolling with the help of two boats and a trawler for a stretch of 20 km in the sea. Movement of trawlers has been banned within that limit.
The number of sea turtles arriving on the coast for mass nesting is increasing every year with a corresponding rise in the number of tourist.
Moreover, an awareness campaign is also being carried out for the tourists to sensitise them on not to pick up any turtle or click photograph with them.
A special museum for educating the tourists and commoner on the endangered turtles has been opened at New Podampeta. The museum imparts teaching on the lifestyle, food habits, breeding and security of the endangered turtles. Provision has also been made for parking of the vehicles of the tourists with the help of the local residents
PNN