Bhubaneswar, May 01: Unseasonal rains during the last one week in Orissa's coastal areas had affected the emergence of hatchlings of Olive Ridley Sea turtles which could lead to large-scale mortality, an NGO working for turtle protection has warned. The delay in emergence of hatchlings on the Sandy Rushikulya beach in Ganjam district had been noticed following heavy rains which lashed the area, the NGO 'Operation Kacchapa' said.

It was because the rains hardened the beach sand which prevented the hatchlings from digging their way out and emerging, the NGO's coordinator Biswajit Mohanty said.


"This may lead to mass deaths of hatchlings if the weather does not improve within a day or two," Mohanty said, adding observers had reported that the hatchlings had been fully formed and were ready to emerge out of the nests but unable to do so due to the wet sand.

The emergence of hatchlings was marked since April 28 last with about 500 nests hatching on the first evening and about 800 nests the subsequent day.

Mohanty said the nesting occurred over a two km long beach near Gokharkuda village where about one lakh turtles laid eggs after mass nesting began on March 10 last. Due to late nesting, at least 70 per cent of the eggs had been lost due to beach erosion caused by strong summer winds and high waves, he said.

Bureau Report