This Christmas, joy to the world arrived in the form of a fragile clutch of 145 eggs on Agonda beach, after an Olive Ridley turtle was spotted nesting during early morning patrols. Forest officials from the Canacona division said the turtle was sighted around 4 am during routine night patrolling along the shore-line, marking the second nesting recorded at the beach this season.
The nesting process was closely monitored to ensure the turtle was not disturbed, following which the eggs were carefully relocated to a protected hatchery in keeping with standard conservation protocols.
“This is the second Olive Ridley nesting reported at Agonda during the ongoing season,” an official said, adding that the first nest had been recorded earlier in the nesting cycle. The nesting site has since been secured and will remain under regular surveillance until the eggs hatch.
Agonda has historically witnessed limited Olive Ridley nesting, with the number of nests fluctuating from season to season. Officials noted that the continued turtle activity, despite the beach’s heavy tourist footfall, reflects the impact of sustained night patrols, increased public awareness and co-operation from local residents and shack operators.
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The beach falls within a notified turtle nesting zone under the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms, along with other beaches in Canacona taluka. Galgibaga beach, also in the taluka, is widely regarded as one of Goa’s most important Olive Ridley nesting sites and records consistent nesting activity each year.
The Olive Ridley turtle is a protected species listed as vulnerable. Along Goa’s coastline, nesting is typically reported between November and February, with sporadic nesting documented across select beaches each season, underscoring the need for continued conservation efforts during the peak tourist period.
