Bhubaneswar, March 6 -- Much to the delight of wildlife lovers and forest officials, the mass nesting of endangered Olive Ridleys has begun at Nasi-2 Island in Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary, considered the world's largest rookery, since Wednesday night.
According to forest officials, over 78,000 female Olive Ridleys have laid eggs on the beach so far, and the number is expected to rise further as the mass nesting process is likely to continue for another week.
Official sources stated that female turtles lay between 120 and 150 eggs at a time. They arrive at the coast in the dead of night, and after laying their eggs, they return to the deep sea.
Hatchlings emerge from these eggs after 45 to 60 days and instinctively find their way to the s...