Canacona: Galgibag beach in Canacona witnessed the first appearance of a female Olive Ridley turtle this season, much to the relief of marine life enthusiasts in the taluka.
The flipped reptile was spotted at the northern end of the Galgibag beach at around 4 am by personnel associated with the turtle conservation programme.
“She laid 135 eggs at the site after laboriously digging a pit of about one foot with her hind limbs, which were later shifted to a turtle incubation centre behind Galgibag church,” said sources attached to the turtle conservation programme.
Usually seen in late November, lately the chelonians have been making appearances well into the next year around January and February, which has alarmed the concerned locals. However, it was a relieving sight for all when the turtle made its way to the shores of Canacona in the wee hours of Wednesday.
“We hope that many more turtles follow the path of this turtle as we eagerly wait for the arrival of this endangered species year after year”, a local said.
It will take about 50 days for the eggs to hatch, said the same source.
