The Hindu : Kerala News : Protecting Olive Ridleys

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Friday, Oct 20, 2006
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Kerala

Kerala

Protecting Olive Ridleys

NOVEL INITIATIVE: Eggs of Olive Ridley turtles collected by conservationists.

Kolavipalam, a fishing village located 25 km from Kozhikode, has once again become an active place for conservationists with the start of the breeding season of the endangered Olive Ridley turtles ((Lepidochelys olivaicea).

The first female turtle swam ashore on the beach near Payyoli on October 3. The local people collected 105 eggs on the first day.

For more than 15 years, the residents of the costal areas of Payyoli and Kolavipalam have been continuing with a tradition of collecting the eggs of Olive Ridley turtles and releasing the baby turtles into the sea after these had been hatched. Till now, these local conservationists have released over 35,000 baby turtles into the sea.

Female turtles usually frequent the same beach. The mother turtle lays the eggs in a pit and does not return to tend the nest. Thus most of the eggs are either destroyed or hunted by predators, including dogs and even human beings.

This conservation initiative is being undertaken under the guidance of Theeraprakriti Samrakshana Samiti since 1998. It has constructed a makeshift hatchery for nestling these species.

The breeding season of the turtles is from September to March. The local people collect 50 to 180 eggs every year. Hatching takes places from 45 to 60 days, says Surendra Babu, secretary of the organisation.

Biju Govind

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