The turtle nesting season’s first pit containing 65 Olive Ridley eggs at the Agonda Turtle Rehabilitation Centre (TRC).
CANACONA
In a boost to the South Goa Marine Range of the Forest Department, the new turtle nesting season got its first batch of 65 Olive Ridley turtle eggs at the Agonda Turtle Rehabilitation Centre (TRC) early Saturday morning.
The turtle nesting season got delayed this time, as the season normally begins in October end or beginning of November.
An Olive Ridley turtle arrived at the Agonda beach at about 5.48 am on Saturday and dug out a pit to lay 65 eggs, before returning to the sea.
The Forest Department appointed guards monitoring the shore since October later shifted all 65 eggs to Pit 1 at the Agonda Turtle Rehabilitation Centre, marking the first pit of the turtle nesting season.
It may be recalled that during the last turtle nesting season, a total of 22,965 eggs were protected at 231 pits in Agonda and Galgibaga.
A total 13,561 Olive Ridley hatchlings were released into the Arabian Sea from Agonda (9,661) and Galgibaga (3,471). However, the mortality rates were high with as many as 8,190 eggs having failed to hatch and an additional 1,214 hatchlings dying in the pits.
RFO Rajesh Naik, incharge of the South Goa Marine Range, which is headquartered at Galgibaga, informed that the Forest Department is expecting more arrivals of Olive Ridley turtles at both the Rehabilitation Centres Nesting Sites of Agonda and Galgibaga.
Naik informed that the Olive Ridley turtle eggs laid on Agonda beach shore is shifted to the TRCs Nesting Site, while eggs laid at Patnem, Palolem, Rajbag and Khola beaches are also shifted to the Agonda TRCs Nesting Site.
“Turtle eggs recovered from Baina, Varca, Benaulim, Mobor and Talpona beaches are shifted to the TRC’s Nesting site at Galgibaga,” said Naik.
