In the last 10 days, Over 2 Lakh Olive Ridleys Turn Up For Mass Nesting At Gahirmatha

Kendrapara (Reporters Today Bureau):  In the last 10 days, More than 2 lakh olive ridleys turtles, have turned up at Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary in Kendrapara district, the world’s largest known rookery of these species, to lay eggs, a phenomenon otherwise called ‘arribada’.

Arribada, a Spanish term that describes the unique natural heritage of millions of these marine species converging on the nesting ground for laying eggs.

The mass nesting process had begun on March 8 at Gahirmatha, The number of female turtles that crawled onto the beach to dig pits by flippers and lay eggs was on a lesser scale. A total of 2,03,635 sea turtles have been spawning at Nasi-2 island of Gahirmatha sanctuary for the past 10 days.

According to data, 300 olive ridleys laid eggs on March 8, 800 on March 9, 1250, on March 10, 7940 on March 11, 425 on March 12, 210 on March 13, 18350 on March 14, 32560 on March 15, 72600 on March 16 and 69200 on March 17.

The Olive ridley turtles turn up in millions for mass nesting along the Odisha coast every year. Gahirmatha beach off the Bay of Bengal coast in Kendrapara district is incidentally acclaimed as the World’s largest-known nesting ground of these animals.

Only the female turtles that occupy the nesting beaches generally at the dead of the night for laying eggs. After indulgence in instinctive egg-laying, the turtles leave the place step into the deep seawater.

After 45-60 days hatchlings happen and baby turtles emerge from these eggs. It is a rare natural phenomenon where babies grow without their mother, said officials.

The Olive ridley turtles turn up in millions for mass nesting along the Odisha coast every year. Gahirmatha beach off the Bay of Bengal coast in Kendrapara district is incidentally acclaimed as the World’s largest-known nesting ground of these animals.