Kendrapada, Feb 23: Nearly over 31,000 Olive Ridley turtles have invaded the Gahirmatha Beach at Kendrapada for mass nesting, last night.
They have been spotted laying eggs on the beach. As of sources, the laying of eggs will continue for a week and then the mother turtles to go back to the sea, as the eggs need around 45 days to hatch.
Gahirmatha is known as the world’s largest nesting ground for the species. Meanwhile the government has taken precautions and the forest department officials are all alert 24*7 for the safety of the species.
To be noted, last week the Olive Ridley turtles who nested at the Rushikulya river mouth of Ganjam coast, have made an all time record by laying above 3.5 lakh eggs in a span of week, comparison to last year’s 3,09,000.