High tides caused by cyclone Remal wash away thousands of nests of Olive Ridley turtles at Gahirmatha marine sanctuary in Kendrapada district, damaging millions of eggs. Learn about the impact on turtle conservation efforts.
Thousands of baby Olive Ridley turtles started emerging from the pits at Nasi-1 and Nasi-2 islands of Gahirmatha marine sanctuary, considered their largest rookery in the world, on Thursday night and moving towards the sea. Odisha is home to 50% of the total global population of Olive Ridleys and about 90% of the Indian population of sea turtles.
Forest officials seized 12 kg of deer meat and arrested a poacher on Monday from Kantiakhai reserve forest in Bhitarkanika national park of Kendrapada district.
The forest department has set up hatcheries at three places in Gahirmatha marine sanctuary in Kendrapada district to protect eggs laid by Olive Ridley sea turtles from predators, poachers, tidal waves and beach erosion.
New Space India Ltd (NSIL), a government company, has planned to deploy transponders in mechanised fishing vessels along the Odisha coast to protect Olive Ridley sea turtles. The project is being implemented under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and aims to provide a communication system for fishermen during emergencies. Read more on Kendrapada News.