PERNEM: Despite the rise in the noise pollution levels in Goa’s coastal belt, the State’s beaches remain favourite nesting sites for Olive Ridley turtles. After a much prolonged delay, an Olive Ridley laid 98 eggs at Tembwada-Morjim. The State Forest Department with the cooperation from locals and shack owners have been conducting the Olive Ridley conservation programme at Morjim since 1997.
These shy creatures prefer extremely quiet habitats for nesting. Ridley’s eggs get hatched after around 50 to 52 days. The hatchlings make their way into the sea usually at night when they notice shiny water under the moonlight. Unfortunately, heavy lighting by the beachside restaurants often misleads hatchlings in wrong directions. Fortunately, the workers and officials of the Forest Department rescued and left them in the sea. However, some unlucky hatchlings fall prey to dogs.
It may be recalled that the former chief minister late Manohar Parrikar had demarcated 500 sq metres at Tembwada-Morjim beach for turtle conservation programme. The respective beaches along with Ashvem-Mandrem were notified as silent and sensitive zones. This means that all kinds of lighting have to be put off past 7 pm and playing of music within the radius of 500 metres is not allowed. Ironically, the respective beach has become one of the noisiest beaches in Goa on account of the loud music parties organised in the area.
