Pernem: On the backdrop of Morjim beach being announced as a commercial zone, the delay in arrival of Olive Ridley sea turtles this year has baffled conservationists. The turtle conservation campaign has been held at Morjim since 1997 and later in the year 2000 when late Manohar Parrikar had initiated the demarcation of 500 sq meters of protected area at Tembwada stretch.
Morjim is one of the preferred beaches in Goa for Ridleys to lay their eggs and usually by November end or the beginning of December the turtles would arrive. The climate change has seemingly affected their cycle as not a single turtle has arrived at Morjim even post-Christmas.
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From 1997 till now, 217 turtles laid 23,703 eggs out of which 6636 had not hatched. As part of the turtle conservation campaign by the Forest Department, 14,633 hatchlings were safely released into the sea while 1441 suffered neonatal deaths. It takes 50 to 52 days for Oliver Ridley eggs to hatch.
Noise pollution in the coastal stretch, use of water transport at odd hours, usage of lights at nights and climate change are seen as the primary reasons for the delay of Ridleys’ arrival this year.
