Bhubaneswar: While Cyclone Remal had little direct impact on Odisha, it has destroyed numerous Olive Ridley mass-hatching sites at Nasi-2. According to Rajnagar Mangrove (forest) and Wildlife Division DFO, Sudarshan Gopinath Jadav, the turbulent sea and high tides due to Cyclone Remal, washed away numerous Olive Turtle eggs.
The incessant rain in the region also destroyed turtle eggs. According to official sources, about 1.20 lakh Olive Ridley sea turtle hatchlings emerged from the eggs at the mass nesting sites of Nasi-2 just three days before Cyclone Remal. However, the prevailing weather conditions have stalled the emergence of the baby hatchlings from the pits.
Jadav said that around 3 lakh Olive Ridley sea turtles came ashore to the golden beach of Nasi-2 within Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary and laid eggs over five days, starting from April 2. The mass nesting process of the sea turtles was also affected by the adverse weather.
The hatchlings of the endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles started emerging six days ago at the nesting ground at Nasi-2, close to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) at Wheeler’s Island under the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary. It was expected that the process would continue for the subsequent five days, but Cyclone Remal disrupted the emergence of the baby turtles from their eggshells.
