Bhubaneswar: The Principal CCF (Wildlife) & Chief Wildlife Warden of Odisha has urged the people visiting the Olive Ridley nesting sites not to disturb this protected species or overcrowd the nesting sites. He has ordered the closure of all nesting sites for visitors till the hatching process is completed.
In an official release, the Principal CCF (L) & Chief Wildlife Warden, Odisha, said, “It is seen that visitors to mass nesting sites of Olive Ridley sea turtles to observe the phenomena of nesting and hatching emergence are using bright lights for observation and photography/ videography of the turtles. In some cases, inappropriate behavior of visitors is also observed. These activities together with crowding the nesting sites would be disturbing the normal process of the turtle nesting and hatching emergence to a great extent.”
The release further read, “Olive Ridley turtle is a protected species under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and the above-mentioned activities come under the definition of ‘hunting’ as per provisions of Section 2(16) prohibited under Section 9 of the Act.”
Given these, the Principal CCF has ordered that all mass nesting sites of Olive Ridley sea turtles shall be closed for visitors forthwith during the period of nesting till the emergence of hatchlings is completed.
