Bhubaneswar: The Indian Coast Guard has launched the annual operation to ensure the safe mid-sea sojourn of breeding Olive Ridley sea turtles and mass nesting of these delicate marine species along the Odisha coast every year between February and March.
Quoting Survey reports by the Odisha forest department, the CG said that as many as 5,55,638 eggs have been laid by the endangered Olive Ridley turtle species at Rushikulya and Devi River mouth to Astrang symbolizing collective conservation efforts towards wildlife protection.
Conservationists have established protected areas on beaches off Odisha coast where these turtles lay their eggs and thus these areas are regularly monitored to prevent human interference, whether through seaward poaching or disturbance from leisure activities, they said.
Every year since 1991, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has been providing continuous assistance under ‘Operation Oliva’ to central and state authorities and agencies to protect endangered species under the Wildlife Act, 1972.
Under Operation Olivia, the ongoing season of mass nesting of endangered Olive Ridley turtles at the coast of Odisha has yielded productive results as the nesting data mainly at Rushikulya have come up with 6,126 nests with 5,51,238 eggs, where in nesting at Devi River mouth to Astrang is sporadic in nature with 60 nests and 5,400 eggs.
Being a maritime law enforcement organisation, the ICG has been entrusted with the charter responsibility of preserving and protecting the maritime environment.
In coordination with the state’s fisheries and the forest departments. Coast Guard is conducting the operation, which commenced on November 1 and will continue up to May 31, 25.
