Kendrapara: Over 2 Lakh Olive Ridleys Return to Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary for Mass Nesting

Kendrapara: Over two lakh Olive Ridleys have returned to Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary in Kendrapara district for mass nesting in the last 10 days.

As many as 2,03,635 sea turtles have turned up at Nasi-2 island of Gahirmatha sanctuary for the past 10 days, reports stated.

The much-awaited mass nesting of Olive Ridley sea turtles commenced on March 8 at Gahirmatha.

According to forest department, a minimal number of endangered turtles participated in mass nesting on first day. However, the number increased later.

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.

A total of 2,575 carcasses of Olive Ridleys have been counted in the current year so far, against 6,320 fatalities reported in the 2019-20 nesting season.