With Humans Under Lockdown, 8 Lakh Olive Ridley Turtles Get To Peacefully Nest On Odisha Coast

From pollution levels reducing drastically to now marine life being able to breathe in peace, it seems like the coronavirus lockdown is seriously helping nature recoup.

Olive Ridley sea turtles have come ashore for mass nesting at the six-kilometre-long Rushikulya beach of Odisha’s Ganjam district in the last five days and it's owing to the coronavirus lockdown that's restricted human movement.   

Since the coronavirus pandemic has forced people to stay at home, the Gahirmatha beach and the rookeries in Rushikulya in Odisha has welcomed more than eight lakh Olive Ridleys to the state, reported 

On March 22 at around 2 am, 2,000 female Olive Ridleys started coming out of the sea to the beach, Berhampur Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Amlan Nayak, told The Hindu. 

The female turtles reportedly return to the same beach from where they hatched, to lay their eggs. And the coast of Odisha is the largest mass nesting site for them.

In the past, human intrusion and the piles of waste on the coast has kept them from nesting in 2019, reported The Hindu. According to the Forest Department, over 2,78,502 mother turtles became a part of the day-time nesting activity. Over 72,142 Olive Ridleys have arrived at the beach to dig nests and lay eggs, since Tuesday morning.

Tourists have been barred from visiting Rushikulya due to the countrywide lockdown in place since March 24. But turtle researchers and environmentalists have been allowed to visit the nesting sites. 

While mass nesting at Gahirmatha is over, it is continuing at Rushikulya. It is estimated that around six crore eggs will be laid this year. 

Journalist source: Archana, K. (2020, Marzo 26). indiatimes. Retrieved from https://www.indiatimes.com/trending/environment/with-humans-under-lockdown-8-lakh-olive-ridley-turtles-get-to-peacefully-nest-on-odisha-coast-509372.html?fbclid=IwAR1VGwG2FmJMp23rJXP0X25uPCXvgbk9vAtoChjSSFPZZ25DCpM8MXhzD2k