Nature’s fury: Lakhs of turtle eggs float near Rushikulya

Berhampur: Nature’s creation of a suitable place and weather condition in the Rushikulya River mouth near Berhampur city of Ganjam district along the Bay of Bengal had invited the rare turtle species for nesting. However, the same nature has turned cruel towards the endangered species as lakhs of turtle eggs are perishing on the beach near the river mouth along the seacoast and floating on the water due to unusual tidal waves near the area, which is a favourite nesting place for turtles.
Notably, lakhs of Olive Ridley turtles had camped at the coast along the beach near the Rushikulya river mouth in the district of Ganjam. The rare species had preferred this river mouth along the beach instead of the Gahirmatha site owing to tidal waves, beach erosion and activities by the defense establishment at the ‘Wheeler’s Island’. Since 1994, the turtles have been sighted nesting here along the coast and laying lakhs of eggs, as the weather conditions are favorable along the beach.
Even during this season which started from February, the turtles had begun nesting and laying eggs at the beach near Rushikulya river mouth. Department sources had informed that more than 2,80,000 eggs had been sighted at the beach along the sea coast which is located within 30 km from the famous coastal town of Gopalpur-on – sea and Silk city Berhampur in Ganjam district. The forest department along with the help of the wildlife officials had been trying to provide a suitable location and secure the eggs during the season.
However, lakhs of eggs have been sighted scattered along the beach and floating in the seawater due to unusual tide in March this year. Normally, the turtles lay eggs in the evenings and hide them 1.5 feet under the sand. They leave the beach after placing the eggs and go deep into the sea in the morning.However, unusual tidal waves at a height of 1.5 feet to 2 feet have endangered the life of turtle eggs. The tidal waves have washed away the sand at least two feet deep in the beach as a result of which the eggs are being washed away. The eggs in thousands are being sighted scattered on the beach and floating in the seawater near the Rushikulya river mouth in recent days. Normally, such unusual tides are generally not expected by natural experts and wildlife officials working on the rare Olive Ridley turtles. Crows, dogs and other scavengers devour the eggs as food at the cost of precious lives of the endangered species.

The Pioneer