Team Herald
CANACONA: In total 182 eggs of Olive Ridleys, which were laid by two turtles on Talpona and Agonda beaches, have been moved to Galgibaga beach to hatch in a safer environment.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
On December 18, a turtle had laid 93 eggs on Talpona beach while on December 28, another turtle nested 89 eggs on Agonda beach.
The Department of Forest had notified North and South Goa as two marine zones and despite Agonda being a crowded beach, Olive Ridleys have always arrived in significant numbers there.
Since the main office of the Forest Department is based at Galjibaga, the eggs have been moved there keeping in mind the safety concerns.
Galjibaga and Agonda beaches are reserved for sea turtles while the Department of Forest has acquired land near Galjibaga for conservation.
Turtle conservation has been carried out at Canacona since 1999 and thousands of hatchlings have been safely left into the sea after their birth.
In 2018, 19 turtles had laid eggs at Agonda and Galjibaga with 1,317 hatchlings being born. In 2019, however, the number dwindled to 603 hatchlings with 18 turtles nesting on both Agonda and Galjibaga beaches.
“If the conditions stay ideal for next two months then more Olive Ridleys are expected to arrive on both the beaches at Canacona,” said Canacona Range Forest Officer Vivek Naik Gaonkar.
