Whales spotted in Rushikulya mouth

Berhampur: Blue whales are spotted in the seas off Rushikulya mouth in the Bay of Bengal. So Rushikulya Mouth may be one of the easiest places to watch whales. Recent sighting of blue whales in Orissa Coast has been reported by Rabindra Nath Sahu. “My experience is fantastic”, says Mr. Sahu, the Secretary of the Rushikulya Sea Turtle Protection Committee (RSTPC).
RSTPC is engaged in protection of endangered species of Olive Ridley turtles. Concentration of blue whales has been spotted in the seas during April, May and June said Mr. Sahu. “To see a blue whale at sea is something most of us can only dream about”, said he. “And to see many in Orissa waters is in fact a very good news”, added Sahu. Blue whales are possibly the largest mammal on the earth growing up to 110 feet and weighing up to some 180 metric tons. The Rushikulya River merges into the Bay of Bengal near Ganjam town in Southern Orissa. While Sahu and his band of volunteers went inside the seas, they found blue whales and he immediately captured it in his camera. Rushikulya Mouth is turning out to be hot spot to watch, whales, dolphins and turtles. On the northern side of the river, a wide stretch of beach is the favored nesting site of olive Ridley turtles.
Every year from November to the end of January, mating takes place in the coastal waters. Hundreds of thousands of female turtles then visit the beach en masse to lay their eggs from February to early April. After 45 - 50 day incubation, hatchlings creep out of the sandy nests and crawl back into the sea. Similarly Irrawaddy Dolphins are also sighted off Rushikulya Coast, said an environmentalist.

Source: http://www.tathya.in/