Chhatrapur, Odisha — The Olive Ridley sea turtles made a spectacular return to the Rushikulya rookery on the second day of the annual arribada, as tens of thousands of turtles climbed ashore to nest.
Forest officials reported that nearly 70,000 female turtles emerged from the Bay of Bengal overnight, bringing the total number of nesting turtles recorded so far this season to around 80,000. On the first day, about 10,200 turtles were observed, indicating a sharp increase in activity compared to the start of the event.
Pic Credit: Pexel
The arribada — a natural phenomenon where thousands of gravid turtles come ashore simultaneously to lay eggs — began later than usual this year. Officials noted that the sudden surge on the second day suggests an even larger turnout in the coming days.
Protection squads have been deployed along the rookery’s beaches to safeguard the nests and ensure minimal human or predator interference. Early observations show that many turtles have already started laying eggs across the sandy stretches, a promising sign for this season’s nesting success.
This mass nesting event underscores the ecological importance of the Rushikulya coast, which is considered one of the world’s vital nesting sites for Olive Ridley turtles. Conservationists hope that continued favorable conditions will result in a strong nesting season, contributing to the long-term survival of this endangered species.
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