The mission to save the Olive Ridley turtles has been an ongoing one that has borne fruit in recent times, rewarding environmentalists and conservationists with an upsurge in surviving turtle hatchlings and adult turtles returning to lay more eggs.
The Goa government has had an important part to play in this happy news. And so the initiative taken by the government to preserve and protect the turtles against all odds is much appreciated.
For the last 5 years, the government has left no stone unturned in protecting this endangered species, so vulnerable to the greed and indifference of man.
Some of the problems faced in protecting the species are growing tourism in coastal areas, sound pollution, the hustle and bustle of the tourists, the danger from foxes and dogs to the unhatched eggs and theft by humans.
Some of the problems faced in protecting the species are growing tourism in coastal areas, sound pollution, the hustle and bustle of the tourists
In 1997, the Government of Goa selected the Morjim, Ashwem and Mandrem beaches as ideal spots for turtle breeding. Land measuring about 500 sq metres was given to the Wildlife and Eco-tourism section. Encroachments by vendors vying for profits from tourists and other vendors were removed.
The mission continues meticulously on Tembwada beach in the Morjim panchayat area. The result is that last year, 52 sea turtles laid their eggs, and this year 69 of them laid 5703 eggs.
The hatched baby turtles were safely released into the sea by the Forest Department.
South Goa has progressed in leaps and bounds in this mission. South Goa’s (Wildlife and eco-tourism section) deputy conservator of forests, Aniket Gaunkar, informed that the sea turtles lay eggs mainly on Agonda and Galjibag beaches, but this time they laid eggs on Talpona, Betul, Kelshi and Utorda beaches too.
With an increase from laying eggs at 41 places last year, this year the turtles have laid eggs at 92 places. Gaunkar further said that the Forest Department has started a marine section, and the guards of this section make rounds at the preservation site.
South Goa’s (Wildlife and eco-tourism section) deputy conservator of forests, Aniket Gaunkar, informed that the sea turtles lay eggs mainly on Agonda and Galjibag beaches, but this time they laid eggs on Talpona, Betul, Kelshi and Utorda beaches too.
Galjibag is reserved for sea turtles, and eggs laid in any other area in South Goa, except Agonda, are transferred to Galjibag for their protection.
Agonda beach suffers from a heavy footfall of tourists with blaring noise pollution. This, however, has not affected the laying of eggs, instead, it has been increasing year by year.
From the beginning of this year to date, 68 sea turtles have laid about 7000 eggs. Land of 3000 sq metres has been allotted for sea turtle conservation, and every year temporary watch towers are erected.
The deputy conservator of forests in North Goa, Anand Jadhav, said that since there was no post-monsoon rain in Goa, the environment was suitable for sea turtles to lay eggs, because of which crowded beaches like Candolim also received sea turtles in large numbers.
The deputy conservator of forests in North Goa, Anand Jadhav, said that since there was no post-monsoon rain in Goa, the environment was suitable for sea turtles to lay eggs
May 23 is celebrated as World Turtle Day. Turtles have importance in our culture, but increasing tourism, commercialisation, pollution and poaching have posed a threat to the very existence of the species. Olive ridley turtles are Schedule I species as per the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Conservation measures taken by environment enthusiasts, the Forest Department and locals have indeed helped the protection of this important sea species in Goa.
