800 eggs laid by Olive Ridley tutles at Agonda beach
Nine Olive Ridley turtles have turned up at Agonda beach so far and laid 800 eggs before returning to the sea.
The forest department has shifted the eggs into pits and secured the nest with a fishing net, to protect them from poachers and stray animals. Two more put has been created at the Galgibaga beach.
Canacona range forest officer Anant Velip said that crawling creatures have shown interest in laying eggs on the Agonda beach despite tourism business and other disturbances. He is confident that in the coming months more turtles will lay eggs here.
During this nesting season, the first Olive Ridley turtle arrived in Agonda on December 31 and laid 118 eggs. At the Galgibaga, the first Olive Ridley turtle arrived on January 3 and laid 117 eggs.
The turtle nesting season normally begins in October and ends by April, but Olive Ridley turtles in recent times have begun arriving only during the mid or end of December and the nesting goes on even beyond May.
The forest department attributes this change in nesting season to climatic changes.
During the last nesting season, the first Olive Ridley turtle arrived at Galgibaga beach on December 24, while the first Olive Ridley turtle arrived at Agonda beach on January 15.
Over 1,500 Olive Ridley hatchlings were released into the sea from these two rehabilitation centres in Canacona during that season.
