Olive Ridley Sea Turtles return to Ekakula Nasi beach for Mass Nesting after 33 years

Kendrapara (Odisha), March 8 -- The endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles have returned to Ekakula Nasi in large numbers for mass nesting after a gap of 33 years.

According to Manas Kumar Das, Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) in charge of Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary, the last recorded mass nesting at Ekakula Nasi occurred during the 1992-93 turtle season.

In the past 48 hours alone, approximately 1,69,348 female Olive Ridley turtles have laid eggs at Ekakula Nasi.

On March 6, around 3,000 Olive Ridleys arrived at Ekakula Nasi for nesting, while on March 7, the number surged to 1,66,348 female turtles.

During the ongoing turtle season, a total of 4.34 lakh female Olive Ridley turtles have laid eggs at Nasi-2 and Ekakula Nasi beache...