Olive ridley hatchlings released in Maha waters

Mumbai: Around 152 olive ridley hatchlings were released into the sea from Gaonkhadi beach at Ratnagiri on Tuesday.

A local team and the forest department had cared for the hatchlings, which came out from two nests, for months. Marine conservationists stated that this was the second time this year when more than 100 hatchlings have been released into the sea.

On January 25, 124 eggs were recorded out of which 79 have hatched, while 119 eggs were recorded on January 26, out of which 89 have hatched. The local team watched in awe as the 152 hatchlings made their way into the sea on Tuesday morning. “These were the fourth and fifth nests of the season. This happened well after 50 days since the nesting in January,” said Pradeep Dingankar, vice-president of NGO Nisarg Yatri, which works towards marine conservation in Ratnagiri. Before this, around 100 hatchlings emerged on January 12 in Ratnagiri.

Last year in November, the state forest department, with assistance from marine enthusiasts built a hatchery on the beach. Conservationists stated that the ratio of nesting of olive ridley turtles has increased in Ratnagiri as compared to last two years. “This is due to the cleaner environment for the turtles, but a major reason is the ban on purse seine net fishing,” said Mr Dingankar.