Bhubaneswar, April 13: Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati experienced a rare natural spectacle on Sunday as he witnessed the mass hatching of Olive Ridley turtles during a visit to the state's Ganjam district.
Accompanied by his wife, Jayasree, the Governor arrived early in the morning at Sipakuda, near the mouth of the Rushikulya River—one of the major nesting grounds for the endangered species. There, he observed thousands of tiny hatchlings emerging from sandy nests and instinctively making their way towards the sea.
Clearly moved by the experience, Kambhampati shared his awe in a post on X, saying, “Visited Podempeta in Ganjam District, a key nesting site for the endangered Olive Ridley turtles. Witnessing the mass nesting and hatching was a truly awe-inspiring experience.”
During the visit, the Governor also took time to review conservation initiatives with local officials. He stressed the vital role of community participation in ensuring the long-term survival of the Olive Ridley turtles.
“The dedication of forest staff, volunteers, and local stakeholders is commendable,” he said, offering special thanks to the District Collector and the Divisional Forest Officer for their continued efforts in protecting this vulnerable species.
According to a senior forest official, the hatching season is currently underway along the Rushikulya river mouth, with thousands of hatchlings emerging daily.
This year, mass nesting occurred in two phases along a five-kilometre stretch between Podampeta and Bateswar. In the first phase, from February 16 to 23, around 6.98 lakh turtles laid eggs. A second phase followed from March 22 to 27, during which over 2.05 lakh turtles nested in the same area.
