AGONDA BEACH, Dec. 29 -- AUGUSTO RODRIGUES

Locals and tourists in Agonda were all smiles as the first turtle came ashore to lay 65 eggs early Saturday morning exactly 42 days later than the previous year.

The first turtle walked ashore on Christmas day in Morjim - two days earlier than previous year and laid 112 eggs.

"The feeling is similar to the one felt when a baby is born in our home. Despite the delay, we hope that we will cross the overall South Goa figure of 165 nesting of last season," stated South Goa Range Forest officer (RFO) Rajesh Naik, who visited the site even as he was on leave.

The first nesting last year was reported on November 16, when a turtle laid 105 eggs. Our guard reported that a turtle came ashore on Decembe...