Over 10,500 eggs of the turtles kept in three rookeries

Wildlife authorities have launched a massive exercise to conserve Olive Ridley turtles in the Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary (KWS).

An unprecedented number of over 10,500 eggs of the turtles have been collected since early March. They are being conserved in the rookeries set up within the KWS limits.

According to the authorities, 139 artificial nests have been arranged in the three rookeries set up at Sangameswaram, lighthouse area, and Jinkapalem of Nagayalanka mandal as part of the in situ conservation method.

The officials, in collaboration with the local communities, have documented collection of 4,259 eggs near the Sangameswaram nesting point, 3,847 eggs near the lighthouse, and 2,465 eggs near Jinkapalem.

The nesting season seems to have come to an end by the end of March as no turtle has been sighted on the beach in the last few days.

“The number of turtles sighted during the annual nesting season in and around the sanctuary area has been significantly higher this year than during the last season,” observes Assistant Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) K. Vinod Kumar.

“The first batch of hatchlings will be released into the sea by April 24 as the incubation period ranges from 45 to 60 days,” Mr. Vinod Kumar told The Hindu .

Helping hand

Members of the Yanadi tribe are directly involved in the conservation bid. They have been given the task of collecting the eggs on the beach and maintaining the rookeries.

Over 10,500 eggs have been kept

in rookeries at

the Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary