The forest department’s dedicated efforts towards turtle conservation in Mangaluru have yielded positive results, with a commendable hatching rate of olive ridley sea turtles. Anthony S Mariyappa, Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF), shared with TOI, “Out of the 20 nests recorded, hatchlings have emerged from six, surpassing the accepted average hatching rate of about 70-80%.”
Mariyappa attributed this success to improved management, handling, and relocation practices. He emphasized that whenever relocation was necessary, nests were carefully replicated to simulate their natural environment, with sand collected from the original nesting area and placed at the same depth as natural occurrences. Strict hygiene measures, including glove usage, were followed to prevent cross-infection or fungal infections, which could jeopardize egg fertilization.
Relocation was promptly conducted within eight hours of egg laying for optimal success, with regular monitoring ensuring a high success rate. According to forest department data, the first nest was reported on December 31 last year at Sasihithlu Beach, with hatchlings released on February 21. From the six nesting sites, 636 eggs were discovered, and 484 hatchlings were released.
Some sites reported a small number of unhatched, dead, or damaged eggs. Notably, nesting site No. 6 achieved an impressive hatching rate of 95%, with 97 out of 102 olive ridley turtle eggs successfully hatching and making their way into the Arabian Sea.
In October 2023, the forest department established three onshore camps operating round the clock for the observation and documentation of olive ridley turtles. These efforts aim to implement in-situ conservation measures, particularly protecting nesting areas from potential predators such as dogs.
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