Local environmentalists are worried over the decrease of Olive Ridley turtles coming to lay eggs at Galgibaga and Agonda beaches.
According to the Forest Department, Agonda and Galgibhaga are the two famous beaches in South Goa for nesting by the Olive Ridley turtles. The officials claim there has been a salient decline in the number of turtle nests in recent years. Morjim beach in the north is another place where Olive Ridley turtles use for nesting.
The Canacona Range forest officer, Vishwanath Pilgulkar, said turtles have laid around 90 eggs at Galgibaga beach this week. But the numbers are dwindling compared to last 10 years, he says. One of the main reasons, he feels, is allegedly the illegal construction in the name of development and also the shacks and huts which have been built on the beach.
According to forest office records, it was in the year 2000-2001 that 33 to 34 pits were protected with the turtles laying 3,500 eggs at Galgibaga. Agonda beach witnessed 1,886 eggs laid by the turtles in the year 2001-2002, protecting thereby as many as 21 pits, for hatching.
With the Forest department protecting the Galgibhaga beach for turtle nesting since 1999 the Olive Ridley turtles have been visiting the beach regularly to lay eggs. In the past, Leatherback turtles have also been spotted, said sources in forest department.
The Canacona Range Forest Officer Pilgulkar said that during the nesting season, the entire length of the beach is patrolled by the Forest officials with the help of local youths. The nests are located and protection is afforded to them by means of erecting temporary enclosures around them so as to prevent the nest being poached by man and animals.
Pilgulkar further said the Ridley Turtle’s season for laying and hatching of eggs starts in October and continues till March-April. But this year there are only few pits at Galgibaga. These pits are well guarded by the local forest department. With the climate conducive for hatching he hopes the turtles will lay more eggs at Agonda beach.
According to sources, fishing trawlers are also a hindrance to this activity. Tourism and excessive development have also caused added to this problem.
Turtles normally do not nest near bright lights. Since the Agonda beach is developed with many shacks and huts which are fully lit for whole night, chances of nesting are not bright and the Turtle Protection Centre is also helpless, added local panch Pramod Fal Desai.
Local environmentalists say that Agonda, having approximately two kilometres sea-front is reserved by the government as protected beach for turtle–nests. However, of late, the beach, having unique fascination for visitors, has seen unchecked increase in tourism activities. These visitors are incidentally coinciding with turtles’ procreation period, and seriously hampering the growth of one of the rarest of species which is likely to go extinct.
Also showing concern, former Agonda Sarpanch Jovi Fernandes and Panch Pramod Fal Desai told Herald that people engaged in beach tourism activities should realise the importance of minimising the artificial illuminations or other activities carried out during the night, specially on protected beaches like Agonda and Galgibaga. They feel they should allow nature to take its own course, so that turtles coming on the beach, mostly after sunset, are not scared away by humans.
The exact reason behind the decrease is not known but sources say that it may due to the tsunami. Others, mainly environmentalists, claim that it may be due to illegal sand extraction and cutting of tree from the beach.
Prema Pagui, a teacher, said the cutting of Casuarina trees along the Galgibaga belt is also a reason for the erosion of soil and increase in the size of waves and decrease in turtle nesting.
He further said that Galgibaga has been the backbone of this turtle conservation drive after creating awareness among the people of Canacona taluka. But the beach is losing its charm due to allegedly illegal sand extraction and cutting down of trees apparently with the blessing of some elected representatives and some
authorities.
