Olive Ridley Turtle Nesting Plummets on Odisha's Beaches, Experts Puzzled
This is typically the season when the pristine shores of Odisha, particularly Gahirmatha beach in Kendrapada district and the Rushikulya river mouth in Ganjam, transform into bustling hubs of activity. Lakhs of Olive Ridley turtles usually emerge from the sea, burying themselves in the sand for their annual mass nesting exercise. However, this year presents a starkly different and concerning picture, with turtle numbers plummeting dramatically compared to previous years, leaving experts and conservationists searching for answers.
Drastic Decline in Nesting Counts
At the Rushikulya rookery, the nesting count has dropped drastically to approximately two lakh turtles, a far cry from the record turnout of over nine lakh observed the previous year. Meanwhile, at Gahirmatha, the situation is even more alarming, with only sporadic nesting recorded so far. The total arrival has been counted at a meagre 645 turtles, highlighting a severe and unexpected downturn in this natural phenomenon.
Environmental Factors Disrupting Nesting Behavior
While the exact reasons for this decline remain unclear, several environmental factors are believed to have disrupted the turtles' nesting behavior. Experts point to erosion of the traditional 5km stretch of rookery at Rushikulya as a primary concern. Additionally, extended winter conditions, unseasonal rain in March, lack of fresh beach formation, and unsuitable temperatures may have collectively contributed to the turtles skipping Odisha's shores this season.
Tamoghna Acharya, associate professor of the marine science department at Berhampur University, noted, "This time we observed at Rushikulya that turtles did not come to the 5km stretch of rookery. Erosion of the beach was noticeable, making it unsuitable for nesting." Acharya also highlighted that reduced sea wind and absent tides may have hindered the turtles' ability to ride along the coast, further complicating their nesting efforts.
Turtles' Sensitivity to Beach Conditions
Vishwanath Neelannavar, Regional Chief Conservator of Forests for the Berhampur Circle, emphasized the intelligence and sensitivity of Olive Ridley turtles. "Before nesting, they conduct a kind of recce along the coast to assess whether the habitat is suitable. Beach formation, especially the arrival of new sand, is crucial because turtles need soft, suitable ground for crawling and digging pits to lay eggs. If the beach condition is not favourable, they may avoid nesting altogether," he explained. Neelannavar added that it is normal for turtles to skip nesting in some years, with temperature playing a significant role in their decision-making process.
Ongoing Research and Conservation Efforts
Sudarshan Jadhav, Divisional Forest Officer of the Rajnagar mangrove division overseeing Gahirmatha, acknowledged that the exact behavioral biology of turtles is still under research, despite some visible reasons this year. According to him, persistent rain in March likely rendered the beach unsuitable for nesting. Moreover, winter lingered unusually late, continuing through much of February and into the first week of March, conditions not conducive for mass nesting.
Jadhav reassured that conservation measures remain in place, stating, "We have a favourable coastal topography with low human disturbance and abundant marine food. Strict protection measures, including fishing restrictions and beach clean-ups, will continue to support the turtles' habitat." As authorities and researchers delve deeper into this mystery, the hope is to better understand and mitigate the factors affecting these endangered creatures, ensuring their survival for future generations.
