Post News Network
Kendrapara, Feb 3: Coastal security compulsion has forced the authorities not to go ahead with live telecast of mass nesting of Olive Ridley turtles at a rookery in Orissa close to the defence installation site, forest officials said Tuesday.
From the national security viewpoint, live global exposure to the annual mass nesting of turtles through internet has been shelved. However, it would be videographed and transmitted for public view later, they said.
It was earlier decided that this year Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and state forest department would jointly carry out live telecast of mass nesting of these marine animals in Gahirmatha nesting ground in Kendrapara district.
Last year, everything was ready for telecast. However, the turtles did not turn up, said DFO, Rajnagar Mangrove (wildlife) forest division, Kedar Kumar Swain.
Tourists and researchers can’t enter the unique natural heritage keeping in view the fact that the unmanned islands are located in close vicinity of Wheeler’s island defence test range centre, a prohibited territory.
Forest officials and a select band of animal researchers would be allowed to watch the annual mass nesting. Though the turtles had skipped visit last year, mass nesting phenomenon is expected to occur any time now as there is a sizeable congregation of Olive Ridley turtles along Gahirmatha coastal waters.
