The time for mass nesting of Olive Ridleys at the Rushikulya rookery coast in Ganjam district of Odisha has elapsed but these endangered marine turtles have not arrived here yet.
According to zoologists and wild life experts, using their unique capability, these female marine turtles might have stored fertilised eggs or live sperms inside their body to lay eggs when they find conducive environment. Experts are trying to figure out the reason why female Olive Ridleys did not arrive here for mass nesting this time.
In any case, long migration of Olive Ridleys for mating and mass nesting still remains a mystery.
Berhampur Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Ashis Behera has suggested to the Regional Conservator of Forests (RCF) to initiate proper scientific study on this. The usual time for mass nesting at Rushikulya rookery coast is from February second week to March second week. But this year they have not arrived even till April third week. “Large number of mother Olive Ridleys are still in the sea near this coast but their number is getting reduced as some of them have started to go back,” said the DFO.
However, sporadic nesting is still continuing at this coast.
Bivash Pandav, of Wildlife Institute of India (WII), said the Olive Ridleys not going for mass nesting despite large scale mating near a coast has been reported from several places including Gahirmatha in Odisha in the past. “But the reason behind their decision cannot be said for sure as most aspects of the life and habits of Olive Ridleys are still unexplored,” he said.
According to senior herpetologist and developmental biologist Sushil Dutta, reptiles like turtles have the capacity to retain mature live sperm inside their body for long till they get proper environment. “Similarly fertilised eggs can survive inside the mother for several months and these fertilised ova do not develop further till the mother turtles find it fit. But not many studies have been conducted regarding this quality,” he added.
Experts and forest officials have not given up. “We do not know what these turtles have in their mind,” said the DFO.
Therefore, the forest department is still operating six camps and seven artificial hatcheries on this coast for the protection of the mothers and their eggs who are coming over for sporadic nesting.
