Herpetologists were in for a surprise when an Olive Ridley turtle walked ashore to Galgibaga beach, in Canacona, on May 12, 2024 and laid 124 eggs, taking the total number of nestings to 43 at this beach for the season.
“This is something unexpected at this time of the year. Perhaps, the turtle mated later, or the increased temperature could have accelerated the maturing of the eggs,” said project coordinator, marine life of Goa, Nester Fernandes.
In all, 13,185 were released from the two nesting sites in South Goa – Galgibaga beach and Agonda beach – of which, 9,372 were from the latter.
“Just when we thought it was too hot, and are cautious about further hatchings because of the heat, the appearance of the turtle took us by surprise,” said employee of the Forest Department in Galgibaga, Videet Mokhardkar.
“It is difficult to expect anything from the last nesting because of the heat, and the monsoon that is going to break soon," says Fernandes.
"Excessive heat makes the sand hard, and therefore, difficult for hatchlings to dig and come up to the surface,” explains Fernandes, who feels the late nesting is a rare happening.
Turtles start coming ashore from October, and do so till around early April. The total number of eggs laid in Agonda was 18,022, the biggest number recorded so far, according to records with the Forest Department.
Turtles normally lay eggs at Galgibaga beach. But, this season, Agonda beach turned out to be the preferred location with the former being home to just 43 pits that had 4,369 eggs, in all.
This season, a total of 231 nestings were recorded by the Forest Department in South Goa, with 811 in Agonda, and seven in various beach stretches in South Goa, which were recorded as “unreported”.
From the total of 22,976 eggs laid, 7,053 did not hatch, while 1,115 hatchlings did not make it to the sea.
“It is too early to say anything about the eggs laid on May 12. Apart from some reasons that can be speculated as to why the turtle laid eggs so late, the fact that it did will leave us with some data for further study,” observed Fernandes.
Despite two nests on the verge of opening up with hatchlings soon, the third nest laid on May 12 is keeping the turtle guards in Galgibaga on alert.
“Though least expected, we are really happy that the turtle came ashore to lay eggs. We are more attentive now,” assured turtle guard, Tukaram Metri, in Galgibaga.
“The sand gets hard with too much of water. Water by itself spoils the eggs, and therefore, hatchlings cannot be expected. And, when the sand where the eggs are laid gets hard, the hatchlings cannot come up to the surface,” explains Fernandes for whom the study and dissemination of information on turtles is a passion.