Record number of pits at Galgibaga, Agonda

Canacona: The turtle conservation centres at Agonda and Galgibaga in Canacona are witnessing an overwhelming rise in Olive Ridley nestings this season, with officials terming it as an all-time record.

Forest department staff have recorded an overall 57 pits comprising 6,042 eggs — 47 pits at Agonda with 4,759 eggs and 13 pits at Galgibaga with 1,283 eggs, beating the previous record of 39 pits and 4,437 eggs (35 pits with 4,002 eggs at Agonda and four pits with 435 eggs at Galgibaga) during the 2020-21 nesting season.

During the 2021-22 season, officials had recorded 39 pits, with the Agonda and Galgibaga centres accounting for 28 and 11 turtle nests, respectively, while 3,000 hatchlings were released into the sea.

This season, forest staff have released 400 hatchlings from six pits at both the sites. While 259 hatchlings that emerged from 302 eggs in the first three pits at Agonda were released into the sea, 141 were released from 275 eggs protected in the first three pits at Galgibaga.