Berhampur, Feb 23: The mouth of the Rushikulya river in Odisha’s Ganjam district has become a significant nesting site for the endangered olive ridley turtles, with more than 6.82 lakh of these marine creatures gathering for mass nesting, officials reported on Sunday.
The mass nesting event began on February 16, and so far, over 6.82 lakh olive ridley turtles have laid eggs on the beach, surpassing the previous record of 6.37 lakh turtles recorded in 2023.
According to an official, the mass nesting of the turtles continues, so the number is expected to rise.
In 2023, a total of 6,37,008 turtles laid eggs over an eight-day period from February 23 to March 2, while in 2022, the number was 5.50 lakh.
Experts attribute the record number of turtles to favorable climatic conditions this year.
The government has installed fencing along a 9-km stretch, from New Podampeta to Prayagi, where the turtles have nested this year. This fencing is intended to safeguard the eggs from predators, said the official.
