Forest officials, marine range, patrol the Colva beach after the instance of sea turtles laying eggs on the beach came to light. Santosh Mirajkar Captured by : The Goan
MARGAO
After sea turtles laid eggs at the Colva beach a day ago, officials of the Forest department, marine range, on Wednesday descended at the beach, but for a different reason “ to ensure that eggs laid by sea turtles are not tampered with by humans or destroyed by animals.
A day after the forest department launched an inquiry over the missing turtle eggs laid at Colva beach, forest personnel on Wednesday interacted with local fishermen and members of the public, urging them not to disturb the turtle eggs and to promptly report any violations to lifeguards or forest officials.
“It’s an offence to tamper with the turtle eggs. Fishermen or members of the public who find unscrupulous persons tampering with the turtle eggs should immediately inform the Forest officials or the lifeguards,” said Jeffrino Carvalho.
He said a three-member team of Forest officials visited the beach to educate the fishermen and the locals about the legal implications of disturbing turtle nests and to encourage cooperation in protecting them.
The Forest department has been trying to find out since Tuesday whether eggs laid by the sea turtles at Colva were tampered with by humans or destroyed by animals. Officials said they have decided to keep a close watch on Colva beach to ensure that turtles frequent the beach to lay eggs.
