Lakhs of olive Ridley turtle eggs floating near Rushikulya river

Nature’s creation of a suitable place and weather condition near the Rushikulya river mouth in the Ganjam district along the Bay of Bengal had invited the rare species of the turtles to this place for the nesting. However, the same; nature’s furry has endangered the lakhs of rare eggs of the turtles are perishing on the beach near river mouth along the sea coast and floating on the water due to unusual tide near the area which was the favorite place of laying eggs.

Notably, lakhs of olive ridley turtles had camped at the coast along the beach near the Rushikulya river mouth in the district of Ganjam.

The rare species of turtles had preferred this river mouth along the beach instead of the famous site; Gahirmatha due to the tidal wave, beach erosion and activities by the defense establishment at the ‘wheeler island’.

Since 1994, the rare species of turtles had been sighted nesting here at the sea and laying lakhs of eggs during favorable weather conditions and suitable place along the beach.

Even during this season that started from February, the turtles had begun nesting and laying eggs at the beach near Rushikulya river mouth.

The departmental sources had informed that more than 2, 80,000 of eggs had been sighted at the beach along the sea coast which is located within 30 KM from the famous coastal town of Gopalpur in Ganjam district.

The forest department along with the help of the wildlife organization officials had been trying to provide a suitable location and to secure the eggs of the rare turtles during the season.

However, the unusual tidal waves at a height of 1.5 feet to 2 feet, has endangered the security of the rare turtle eggs. The tidal waves have washed away the sand deep 2 feet in the beach as a result of which the eggs place underneath the beach at a deepness of around 1.5 feet had been washed away.

The eggs in thousands are being sighted scattered on the beach and floating in the sea water near the Rushikulya river mouth during this week of March. Normally, such unusual tides are not being expected at the area by the natural experts and wildlife people working on the rare olive ridley turtles. Crows, dogs and other animals find the eggs as their food and the eggs in thousands are being taken away jeopardizing the lives of rare species.

(From odishatoday.com, Rushikulya river, Orissa, India, by Santanu Barad)