PERNEM
Locals and tourists at the Morjim beach were in for a pleasant surprise when an Olive Ridley turtle arrived near the Turtle Rehabilitation Centre (TRC) at Tembwada-Morjim and laid 139 eggs on Thursday evening.
According to locals, Olive Ridley turtles usually arrive at night to lay their eggs, but this Olive Ridley turtle came ashore in the evening, while the beach was filled with people.
The people were fascinated by the unexpected arrival of the Olive Ridley turtle at the beach and many captured the event on their smartphones, as the turtle moved to the sand, deftly dug a hole, laid its eggs, covered the hold with sand and returned to the sea.
Workers from the TRC later moved all 139 eggs to a safer location, where they will be protected till they are hatched and released into the sea.
Since 2000, Morjim has been one of four sites for the Turtle Rehabilitation Centre (TRC), the others being at Mandrem (Pernem) and Agonda and Galgibaga in Canacona taluka.
