The Mandapam forest range has created a record of sorts by collecting 1,021 sea turtle eggs on a single day on Wednesday from 10 nests on the seashore between Muhuntharayar Chathiram and Arichalmunai in Dhanushkodi and taking the total number of eggs so far collected to a whopping 7,116.
It turned out to be a virtual treasure trove for turtle watchers as they found as many as 10 nests of Olive Ridley on a 10-km stretch between Muhuntharayar Chathiram and Arichalmunai, the eastern tip of this island, and made the record collection. “For the first time in several years, the collection of eggs during a season has crossed the 7,000-mark and this is the highest collection by any range in the State,” Forest Range Officer S.Sathish said.
After making the maiden collection of 98 eggs of the season on December 13, the turtle watchers unearthed nests on almost every other day on the seashore and made the huge collection possible. The range had vast a sandy stretch from Adhiramapattinam to Dhanushkodi, considered to be the most preferred destination of sea turtles to have their nests for laying eggs, he said.
The range had so far released 400 hatchlings into the sea, achieving more than 98% survival rate, Mr. Sathish said. “We are hopeful of setting a new record both in terms of egg collection and release of hatchlings when the season draws to a close in March-April,” he told The Hindu.
Thanks to a series of awareness campaigns on protection of sea turtles through folklore programmes in all fishing hamlets, there had been an increased awareness among the fishermen on saving Olive Ridley turtles, he said.
On Monday, fishermen engaged in shore seine fishing in Dhanushkodi had released at least 10 sea turtles, caught in their fishing nets, and on Wednesday they released two more turtles, he said. In February alone, the fishermen would have released more than 25 sea turtles back into the sea, he said.
