Nature’s rhythms are amazing. Lakhs of Olive Ridley turtles crawled out of the sea to lay eggs on the Rushikulya river-mouth beach in Ganjam district of Odisha on Thursday. During the mass nesting every year, the turtles, one of the oldest and endangered inhabitants of the sea, dig the beach surface and scoop out sand to make deep conical holes. Each lays 80 to 120 eggs in the hole and fill in with sand. Before the day gets long, the mother turtles are back in the sea.
A variety of predators pose a threat to the eggs of these harmless creatures. Forest Department watchers and volunteers from villagers make stupendous efforts to protect the eggs from dogs, jackals and others.
Depending on the sand temperature and the weather, the hatchlings normally emerge after 45 to 55 days, again to a multitude of threats to their survival. On the beach, birds and mammals prey on them. Once in the water, they come under attack by some fish species. No wonder, Olive Ridleys are categorised as endangered.
(Text and images by Biswaranjan Rout)
The way back: The tired, slow crawl to the sea.
Yearly rhythm: Olive Ridley turtles crawl to the Rushikulya beach from the Bay of Bengal at Podampeta village in Ganjam district of Odisha to lay eggs.
Pangs of nesting: A turtle digs to make a conical hole into which it lays eggs.
Eagle eye: A wildlife volunteer keeps a watch on the nesting.
No time to pause: Midway through the nesting session.
Footprint of a nesting: The beach sand records the ebb and fl
Amphibious dexterity: Before the day gets long, the mothers return to the sea, leaving the eggs to hatch on their own.