Press Trust of India
Berhampur, Dec 16: Olive Ridley sea turtles were spotted off the Ganjam coast as the endangered species gathered in the Rushikulya river mouth for their mating season.
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Berhampur, AK Behera, said the gathering of the turtles is likely to pick up gradually in the next few days.
The turtles usually start their mating in second or third week of November. But this time the process has been delayed, forest officials said.
“However, it will not impact the mass nesting of the turtles if the climatic condition remains favourable,” former chief conservator of forests Sudhakar Mohapatra said.
Rushikulya river mouth is touted as the second largest rookery of the Olive Ridley turtles in the world after Gahirmatha in Kendrapara district.
Patrolling has been intensified in the area to provide security to turtles and reduce their mortality, the officials said.
“We have set up nine camps along the Ganjam coast – from Prayagi to Sonepur. Two forest personnel are deployed in each camp,” the DFO said.
Besides, a 10-member sea patrolling squad has also been deployed. The squad has two speed boats and two trawlers, he added.
The forest personnel of Khallikote range have also been asked to patrol the coast. “We have also sought cooperation from the directorate of fisheries and the marine police to prevent illegal fishing in the sea,” the DFO said.
The state government has imposed ban on fishing by mechanized boats in 20-km radius off the coast. “We have seized a trawler from Andhra Pradesh. It intruded into our waters illegally. Eight fishermen from the neighbouring state were arrested,” he added.
In the last two months, 28 turtle carcasses have been found along the Ganjam coast, the DFO said.
The turtles perished after being hit by the propeller of fishing trawlers, forest officials said. The mass nesting of the turtles will take place in the last week of February or the first week of March. Hatchlings would emerge from the eggs after 45 to 60 days and find their way into the sea, officials said. PTI
