The Forest Department has collected over 2,000 eggs of Olive Ridley turtles from the Puducherry coast and sent them to an artificial hatchery at Panithittu near here.
A senior official said the eggs were collected from nesting sites in the coastal hamlets of Moorthikuppam, Narambai, Panithittu, Veerampattinam and Nallavadu from January 5.
Volunteers from local fishing community also pitched in and collected eggs and shifted them to the hatchery.
The eggs would be safely housed at the hatchery till their incubation period which would be between 45 to 60 days. Classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Olive Ridley turtles visit the Puducherry coast from January to March for laying eggs.
The conservation programme was started a few years ago to protect and release the turtles into the sea after the breeding season, the official said.
The protection of the nesting sites is important for successful hatching of eggs. The nesting area is covered with nets and the Forest Department has deputed a person to protect the nests round the clock. The eggs will begin hatching from February 15, he said.
