Berhampur: The three-month-long mating process of Olive Ridley sea turtles in the ocean has come to an end, Rabindra Nath Sahu, secretary of the Rushikulya Turtle Protection Committee, said.
According to Sahu, the female turtles have started surfacing on the seawater indicating that the turtles have concluded their mating at the Rushikulya estuary.
Each year hundreds of Olive Ridley turtles arrive in large numbers for mass nesting along Odisha’s vast coastline. In preparation, the Forest department and various voluntary outfits have implemented all necessary protective measures. Fencing was set up along the beach to prevent the entry of predators like dogs and jackals, and efforts are being made to keep the area clean.
To safeguard the turtles, fishing activities was restricted up to 10 kms into the sea along the stretch from Prayagi to Aryapalli.
During the mating season, the turtles remained within this 10-km zone. Now that the process has concluded, the male turtles have separated from the females. With Makar Sankranti marking the transition of the sun into the northern hemisphere, southerly winds will start to blow, causing a rise in temperature.
