Govind S. Poteker
Some beaches of Goa have gained popularity among environmentalists and nature lovers as breeding grounds of the famous Olive Ridley turtles. Recently, for the first time in recorded history, an Olive Ridley sea turtle was spotted during the daytime at around 5:30 p.m. on Morjim Beach in Pernem, where it laid139 eggs.
Though the turtles have been visiting Morjim Beach since ages, it was a first instance of them coming to shore during the day. This season, six turtles have laid eggs as compared to the five of the last season. The report was confirmed by S. R. Prabhu, Range Forest Officer of Pernem Range. Such instances are quite common in Orissa on the eastern coast, whose beaches form the largest nesting site of these reptiles that evolved more than 200 million years ago. Morjim is one of the main beaches besides Galgibaga and Agonda in South Goa, known world-over as important nesting sites for Olive Ridley sea turtles in Goa.
The turtles come to the beach and lay eggs in pits made in the soft sands away from the seawater. In order to protect the eggs from seawater, volunteers shift the eggs and replant them in a pit at a safer place. It is a really fascinating sight to watch the baby turtles come from out the pit and make their way to the unsafe sea.
The first nesting took place on November 8 from which 114 baby hatchlings were released into the sea. So far, three hatchings are already over with three more to go. The likely day for the next hatching is between March 4 and 6 and another is due for around March 8. It takes about 45 to 60 days for hatching, which is subject to local temperature. Interestingly, the sex of the baby turtle does not depend on chromosomes like human beings, but on temperature! If the temperature in the nest is more than 29°C, than the turtle is female and if the temperature is lowers, it’s a male.
Survival of turtles is as rare as one in thousand as they have to face a number of poachers, both on land and at sea. Turtles are very sensitive to light pollution; as a result, the number of turtles coming to the Goan beaches has fallen due to increasing tourism and fishing activity.
In order to conserve and protect the nesting sites of Olive Ridley sea turtles in Goa, the Forest Department initiated a move some time in the mid-nineties in close coordination with locals and some NGOs. They appointed volunteers to take care of nesting sites and also set up interpretation for public to highlight the importance of these turtles to the local environment. The eye witness to this amazing event is one such volunteer.
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