TELL TALE SIGNS: Footprints of Olive Ridley turtles mark their journey ashore at Vagator Beach this nesting season.
MAPUSA
In a remarkable breeding season for the endangered Olive Ridley turtles, Vagator beach witnessed a notable increase in nesting activity between December 2024 and April 2025.
According to the Goa Forest Department, a total of 1,227 eggs were laid across twelve nesting events and later relocated to the conservation centre at Morjim, Pernem, for safekeeping.
Despite the encouraging number of nesting attempts, forest officials reported that in eight to ten instances, turtles returned to the sea without laying eggs. Officials attribute this behaviour to environmental challenges such as overly wet sand, erosion-induced uneven surfaces and rocky shoreline patches that rendered parts of the beach unsuitable for nesting.
Encouragingly, no rave parties were held at Vagator beach this season – a departure from previous years – which may have contributed to the more favourable environment for turtle nesting.
Experts suggest that the absence of such disturbances allowed the turtles to come ashore without fear or interruption. “In two to three cases, the turtles encountered rocky areas of the beach, making nesting impossible. But overall, the beach saw twelve confirmed nesting events, a significant number for this location,” a forest official stated.
The current breeding season’s numbers mark a rise in activity compared to earlier years. From January to mid-April 2024, turtles laid eggs in twenty nesting events, with seventeen of those occurring in March alone, yielding a total of 1,868 eggs. In comparison, the 2022–23 season saw just three nesting events and 364 eggs, while only four nests were recorded in 2021–22.
The consistent return of the turtles over the past two years is being seen as an indicator of improving environmental conditions.
However, wildlife advocates argue that without proper infrastructure, the site remains vulnerable. “If turtles are consistently coming in large numbers to nest at this beach, then the Forest Department and the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority should take note of this and establish a turtle conservation center at this location,” said Ramesh Naik, Chairman of the Anjuna Biodiversity Management Committee.
Naik also called for Vagator beach to be declared a sensitive ecological zone and recommended increased nighttime patrolling by police during the breeding season to ensure minimal human disturbance.
He confirmed that formal communications have been made to all relevant authorities advocating for the establishment of a dedicated conservation center at Vagator beach.
Currently, all turtle eggs laid at Vagator are transported to the Morjim conservation facility, nearly 20 kilometers away.
Conservationists argue that an on-site centre would not only improve hatchling survival rates but also reinforce Vagator’s potential as a critical nesting site for the Olive Ridley turtles.
