A remarkable natural event is unfolding along the coast of Odisha, as thousands of Olive Ridley turtle hatchlings have begun their seaward journey from the sandy shores near the Rushikulya river mouth in Ganjam district. The mass hatching commenced on Thursday and is expected to continue for the next four to five days.

Forest officials confirmed the timely start of this much-anticipated phenomenon, which draws nature enthusiasts and conservationists from across the country. The Olive Ridley turtles, known for their unique mass nesting behavior called arribada, return to the beaches each year to lay their eggs. After completing the nesting, the mother turtles head back to the ocean, leaving the eggs to incubate naturally under the warm sand.

On Thursday, the tiny hatchlings began emerging from their sandy nests, instinctively crawling towards the sea under the cover of darkness. Their journey to the ocean is perilous, with threats from predators and environmental factors, but forest officials are working diligently to ensure their safety.

“The mass hatching has started on time and it is likely to continue for the next four to five days. We are trying our best to ensure the safety of the baby turtles,” said Dibya Shankar Behera, Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) and in-charge of the Khallikote Forest Range.

To protect the hatchlings, forest department staff and volunteers have set up barriers to keep predators at bay and are patrolling the beach to ensure safe passage for the baby turtles. Lighting near the beach has also been minimized to prevent disorientation.

The Rushikulya rookery is one of the three major mass nesting sites for Olive Ridley turtles in India, along with Gahirmatha and Devi river mouth. Each year, this event serves as a powerful reminder of the delicate balance between wildlife and conservation efforts.

Environmentalists continue to emphasize the importance of preserving these coastal habitats to ensure the survival of future generations of this vulnerable species.

Olive Ridley Hatchlings Begin Seaward Journey in Odisha’s Ganjam District
A remarkable natural event is unfolding along the coast of Odisha, as thousands of Olive Ridley turtle hatchlings have begun their seaward journey from the sandy shores near the Rushikulya river mouth in Ganjam district. The mass hatching commenced on Thursday and is expected to continue for the next four to five days.

Forest officials confirmed the timely start of this much-anticipated phenomenon, which draws nature enthusiasts and conservationists from across the country. The Olive Ridley turtles, known for their unique mass nesting behavior called arribada, return to the beaches each year to lay their eggs. After completing the nesting, the mother turtles head back to the ocean, leaving the eggs to incubate naturally under the warm sand.

On Thursday, the tiny hatchlings began emerging from their sandy nests, instinctively crawling towards the sea under the cover of darkness. Their journey to the ocean is perilous, with threats from predators and environmental factors, but forest officials are working diligently to ensure their safety.

“The mass hatching has started on time and it is likely to continue for the next four to five days. We are trying our best to ensure the safety of the baby turtles,” said Dibya Shankar Behera, Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) and in-charge of the Khallikote Forest Range.

To protect the hatchlings, forest department staff and volunteers have set up barriers to keep predators at bay and are patrolling the beach to ensure safe passage for the baby turtles. Lighting near the beach has also been minimized to prevent disorientation.

The Rushikulya rookery is one of the three major mass nesting sites for Olive Ridley turtles in India, along with Gahirmatha and Devi river mouth. Each year, this event serves as a powerful reminder of the delicate balance between wildlife and conservation efforts.

Environmentalists continue to emphasize the importance of preserving these coastal habitats to ensure the survival of future generations of this vulnerable species.