Mangaluru: A total of 95 olive ridley hatchlings successfully made their way into the Arabian Sea on February 6 from the first documented nesting site of the season at Sasihithlu Beach.
Deputy Conservator of Forests Anthony S Mariyappa stated that 14 nesting sites have been recorded this season. The first nesting at Sasihithlu was spotted on December 16, with hatchlings emerging nearly two months later. Out of 101 eggs, 95 successfully hatched, marking an impressive 94% survival rate.
This site is among the earliest reported nests, with hatchlings from other locations expected to emerge within the next 10 days. Last season, 21 nesting sites were identified along the coastline.
To strengthen turtle conservation, the forest department has increased patrolling efforts from Sasihithlu to Ullal and installed CCTV cameras for better monitoring. In the previous nesting season, officials recorded 2,000 eggs, releasing 1,100 hatchlings safely into the ocean.
This year, conservation initiatives have been further intensified to safeguard olive ridley turtles. Key nesting locations include Sasihithlu, Idya, Surathkal, Tannirbhavi, Bengre, Someshwara, and Uchila.
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