PERNEM/PANAJI
In what would be of concern to environmentalists and animal lovers, an Olive Ridley sea turtle arrived at Ashwem beach on Friday afternoon, only to return to the sea without laying her eggs.
Loud noise and rampant tourism activity is believed to have compelled the turtle to leave the beach even though the area has been designated as a turtle conservation site.
According to locals, the sea turtle came to Ashwem beach on Friday at about 2 pm to lay her eggs.
Some tourists and citizens disturbed the sea turtle as it was in the process of digging a hole in the sand. The turtle then abandoned the hole and went straight back into the sea without laying her eggs.
On the instructions of Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane, a team of the department has proceeded to the site at Ashvem in coastal Pernem to investigate the alleged incident.
"A team from the Forest department has been sent to check on the same. Action will be initiated accordingly,” Rane said in a tweet.
Several stretches of the beach there and adjoining Morjim have been demarcated as turtle nesting sites and barred from any tourism activity.
