turtle nesting sites

Forest ranger trainees from Madhya Pradesh witnessed the mass hatching of Olive Ridley turtles at the Rushikulya rookery. The 34 officers gained hands-on knowledge in wildlife conservation and forest management during their visit. They observed thousands of hatchlings emerging and beginning their journey to the sea, a significant event following the recent mass nesting period.

Severe coastal erosion has significantly reduced nesting beaches on Nasi-1 and Nasi-2 islands in Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary, delaying the mass nesting of Olive Ridley sea turtles. While Rushikulya beach saw over 2 lakh turtles, Gahirmatha's absence baffles researchers. Nasi-1 has shrunk from 1.5 km to 100m, and Nasi-2 from 2 km to 300m, with beaches becoming too steep for nesting.

While most Indian beaches prohibit vehicles due to safety and environmental concerns, Muzhappilangad Drive-in Beach in Kerala offers a rare exception. This unique location allows regulated beach driving thanks to its specific geographical features, though access remains conditional on various factors like tides and weather.

Zeenat Aman voiced deep concern over Goa's polluted beaches, sharing a TOI report and urging CM Sawant to prioritize environmental protection. Recounting a moving experience at a turtle nesting site, she highlighted the fragility of coastal ecosystems and the threats faced by hatchlings, calling for immediate action to preserve Goa's natural beauty.

A rare sight at Puri's Blue Flag beach saw Olive Ridley turtle hatchlings heading towards the sea, captured by sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik. This event highlights Odisha's crucial role in global turtle conservation, with areas like Gahirmatha hosting massive nesting events. The sighting underscores the continuity of Odisha's coastal ecosystem and the importance of protecting these vulnerable creatures.

A rare sight at Puri's Blue Flag beach saw Olive Ridley turtle hatchlings heading towards the sea, captured by sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik. This event highlights Odisha's crucial role in global turtle conservation, with areas like Gahirmatha hosting massive nesting events. The sighting underscores the continuity of Odisha's coastal ecosystem and the importance of protecting these vulnerable creatures.

Goa government has deployed watchers at the turtle nesting sites as they are constantly exposed to danger due to tourism related activities along the 105km stretch of the coastal belt.

"The volunteers were not able to identify the turtle, so they sent us photographs. To our surprise, it turned out to be a green sea turtle. This is for the first time that a green sea turtle nesting site has been documented in Maharashtra," Karve said.

Over 41,000 giant South American river turtles were found nesting along the Guaporé River, marking the largest known site for this endangered species. Researchers from the University of Florida and WCS utilized drones and statistical models to achieve this accurate count, crucial for conservation efforts. This innovative method offers a less disruptive way to monitor wildlife populations.

An Olive Ridley turtle surfaced at the turtle nesting site at dusk on Monday evening at Morjim, but turned its back to the crowded beach almost immediately, sources said.