India: Olive Ridley baby turtles emerge from mass nesting site

Express India 20 Apr 11;

Millions of rare baby Olive Ridley turtles have begun emerging from the egg-shells along the one kilometre long tranquil Gahirmatha beach off the sea in Orissa.

Since Monday evening, the baby turtles have begun emerging out of eggshells marking the culmination of the annual rendezvous of this marine species, wildlife officials said on Wednesday.

Newborn hatchlings have begun emerging from their nests at the nesting grounds at south eastern Nasi islands of Gahirmatha marine sanctuary.

"Adverse weather conditions prevented forest personnel from witnessing the matchless natural phenomenon. The area is now inaccessible because of rough sea and tide-infested rivulet.

However, the forest patrol squad is stationed at the desolate beach to ensure the safe seaward voyage of turtle hatchlings," said Manoj Kumar Mahapatra, Divisional Forest Officer, Rajnagar Mangrove (Wildlife) Forest Division.

Wildlife guards of the Bhitarkanika national park stationed at these nesting grounds are the sole witnesses to this unique natural heritage involving birth of babies sans mother.

The emergence of hatchlings from egg shells is expected to continue for at least three-four more days.

The babies came out of the eggshells and wandered around the sandy beach for nearly an hour before making a beeline towards the sea.

No wildlife researcher made it to the place this time to witness the rare natural phenomenon because of prohibition on visit to the place, sources said.

Earlier in February, an estimated 3.6 lakh turtles had embarked on their annual sojourn at the Gahirmatha beach for mass nesting as the female turtles had dug out pits to lay eggs. After the mass-nesting, the mother turtles had made seaward journey leaving the eggs to incubate naturally.

After the eggs are incubated under natural process, the hatchlings come out after 45-55 days hiatus. The phenomenon of babies' emergence from the nests is a unique proposition in itself as the babies grow sans mother.

The mortality rate of hatchlings is very high as one out of a thousand survives the life cycle to grow into an adult, according to wildlife researchers.