CANACONA
The season’s first set of 77 Olive Ridley hatchlings were released into the Arabian Sea from the Agonda Turtle Rehabilitation Centre (TRC).
According to forest (wildlife) sources, some Olive Ridley hatchlings were seen in Pit 2 (protected with 103 eggs since December 30, 2023) on the midnight of Tuesday-Wednesday and by morning, 77 hatchlings were collected and later released into the sea.
“However, 26 eggs failed to hatch from this pit,” informed a forest source.
Incidentally, all 150 eggs protected in Pit 1 at Agonda TRC on November 16, 2023 failed to hatch.
Meanwhile, 11 Olive Ridley turtles visited Canacona beaches on Wednesday and laid 1,303 eggs.
While most Olive Ridley turtles have arrived at night or in the wee hours to lay their eggs, two Olive Ridley turtles visited the shores in broad daylight on Thursday and laid eggs at Agonda and Galgibaga beaches.
A mother turtle arrived at 2.45 pm and laid 142 eggs on Galgibaga beach, while another mother turtle arrived at Agonda shore at 5.11 pm and laid 105 eggs.
Both pits were relocated to the respective nursery sites of Galgibaga and Agonda TRC.
A record number of 11 mother turtles arrived at the beaches in Canacona and laid 1,303 eggs between 00.00 hrs and 24.00 hrs of Wednesday, with a maximum of 9 pits relocated at Agonda nursery and two on Galgibaga TRC. Turtle eggs from two pits at Patnem were shifted to Agonda TRC.
On Thursday night, a mother turtle laid 89 eggs and they are being protected in Pit 23.
The Galgibaga TRC is now protecting 23 pits with 2,273 eggs, while the Agonda TRC is presently home to 68 pits (one less than last season) with 7,493 eggs, together accounting for 90 pits and 9,766 eggs in Canacona taluka.
An elated Marine Range (South) Range Forest Officer Rajesh Naik stated that the turtle nesting season has progressed well and hoped for more visits by female turtles to lay eggs in the remaining two months of the turtle nesting Season.
