Odisha: Endangered Olive Ridley turtles lay record 3.55 lakh eggs in a week, number may go up

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New Delhi: The Olive Ridley turtles have laid over 3,55,000 eggs in Odisha's Ganjam coast within a span of one week of mass nesting.

"Over 3,55,000 eggs have been laid by Olive Ridley sea turtles within a week of mass nesting in Rushikulya river mouth of Ganjam coast, which is an all-time record. The turtles had laid 3,09,000 eggs last year," Ashish Kumar Behera, the Divisional Forest Officer in Berhampur division, told IANS.

The official said that the Odisha Forest Department has arranged high security for smooth and safe egg laying of the endangered turtles.

"We have already made all arrangements, including establishing observation camps, fencing coast with nets and patrolling in sea for protection of the sea turtles and their eggs during their mass nesting," said Behera.

The Forest Department has deployed speedboats and trawlers with staff to guard the coast and restricted entry of fishing trawlers into the zone.

The egg laying may touch four lakh this year as the Sunday night calculation was yet to be completed, said the official.

It is said that the number of turtles had declined last year owing to some unknown reasons, however, the count has gone up this year at Gokharkuda and Podampeta-Rushikulya river mouth.

After laying eggs, the female turtles go deep into the sea without waiting to see the hatchels, which generally emerge around 45 days of nesting.

The egg laying that began on February 13 is likely to end on Monda.

(With IANS inputs)