No mass nesting this year
- The annual spectacle of the mass nesting of millions of Olive Ridley sea turtles near the Rushikulya river mouth in Odisha is likely to be missed this year, as the time for it is almost over.
- It’s been around one month since the mass nesting of last year.
- If they do skip the beach, this won’t be the first time.
- In 2002, 2007, 2016 and 2019, the turtles had not shown up at Rushikulya.
- The Rushikulya river mouth is considered the second-biggest rookery in India after Gahirmatha.
- Mass nesting in the Gahirmatha marine sanctuary occurred from March 9-23, 2021 and over 349,000 eggs were laid during this period.
What could explain the miss in mass nesting
- It is a natural phenomenon. During some years, they did not turn up for mass nesting even though a huge number had congregated in the sea.
- Beach erosion might be one of the causes for the turtles staying away this year.
