Mass Nesting Witnessed at Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary Amid Positive Environmental Changes
In a remarkable environmental milestone, endangered Olive Ridley turtles have returned to Eakakulanasi Island in Odisha's Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary for mass nesting after a gap of 33 years. This encouraging event was confirmed by Assistant Conservator of Forests, Manas Das.
"The idyllic beach on the island had undergone significant sea erosion, drastically shortening its profile. However, since 2020, the beach has been undergoing a natural accretion process, becoming elongated again. This environmental change created a conducive habitat, enabling the turtles to arrive in large numbers for nesting," explained Das.
Revival of Eakakulanasi Beach Attracts Thousands of Turtles
The last time Olive Ridley turtles visited Eakakulanasi beach for nesting was back in 1992, during which around 3 lakh turtles laid eggs. Since then, severe erosion had kept the turtles away. Recently, thanks to natural sediment accretion, the beach's profile expanded from approximately 4 km to its current length of around 8 km.
In just two days, around 1.7 lakh turtles have nested on Eakakulanasi, marking a significant environmental turnaround. Das further emphasized the importance of this development as part of Odisha Forest Department’s ongoing conservation initiative.
Nasi-2 Beach Continues to Remain Popular Among Turtles
Besides Eakakulanasi, the nearby Nasi-2 beach has also witnessed substantial turtle activity. Approximately 2.63 lakh Olive Ridley turtles arrived at Nasi-2 to dig pits and lay eggs, reinforcing the sanctuary's status as a critical nesting ground for the species.
Gahirmatha: A Crucial Habitat for Olive Ridley Turtles
Odisha’s Gahirmatha beach in Kendrapara district is globally recognized as the largest-known nesting ground for Olive Ridley turtles. Every year, millions of these marine turtles visit Odisha’s coastline, with notable nesting also observed at Rushikulya and Devi river mouths.
After laying eggs, adult turtles promptly return to the sea, leaving their offspring behind. Hatchlings typically emerge after 45 to 50 days, entering the sea without parental guidance. This phenomenon, as highlighted by Das, remains a fascinating and rare natural occurrence in wildlife.