Rise in Olive Ridley visitors

Bhubaneswar, August 25: The number of Olive Ridley sea turtles visiting the coast adjoining River Rushikulya during the mass nesting period has increased compared to previous years, forest minister Bikram Keshari Arukha informed the Assembly Tuesday. Replying to a question of Priyanshu Pradhan, Arukha said, “In 2014-15, 3,09,519 Olive Ridley sea turtles laid eggs along the coast adjoining the Rushikulya river mouth during the mass nesting period as compared to 59,880 turtles during 2013-14.” While 2.88 lakh turtles visited in 2012-13, aroud 59,880 turtles visited in 2013-14.