Goa, June 8 -- The low hatching rate during the recent Olive Ridley turtle nesting season at the Tembwada hatchery in Morjim has left herpetologists and marine life enthusiasts deeply concerned.

Of the 15,119 eggs relocated, a worrying 4,114 failed to incubate, and only 11,005 hatchlings were successfully released.

According to a Right to Information (RTI) response from the Forest Department, 175 Olive Ridley turtles laid a total of 18,243 eggs in North Goa this season. Of these, 15,119 were relocated to Tembwada in Morjim, while the status of the remaining 3,112 eggs is currently unknown.

"The rate of non-hatching is extremely high, and this could be due to external factors like interference with the natural nesting process. Though no...