A swarm of Olive Ridley turtles was spotted recently on the Odisha beach as the animals came back to the ground to begin their mass nesting season. IFS (Indian Forest Service) officer Susanta Nanda shared a view of the turtle entering the beach from the water on Twitter.
The turtles arrive every year at the beach to commence the hatching process and nest on the beach for several days before going back into the water.
The scene was captured this year by the IFS officer, as he informed in his caption, "Odisha welcomes its annual guests. The mass nesting of Olive Ridley turtle has begun at Rushikulya rookery¡. It¡¯s happening at day time again, after a gap of two years. Swagatam."
In the clip, numerous turtles can be seen popping out of the water and walking into the sand. Some in the video are seen digging holes in the sand as they start laying their eggs.
Check out the clip below:
This year, more than 1.8 lakh olive ridley turtles were calculated to have laid eggs on the beach on the first day of the nesting season. The process began late Thursday night along a 4-kilometer stretch of Odisha beach from Posampeta to Bateshwar. According to forest officials, the nesting is likely to continue for the next few days.
People online were happy and concerned to see the?turtles come back to Odisha to lay eggs. One user worried about the harm that could be brought to the turtles wrote, "Can we not restrict entry of public on the beach during these times."
While another noted, ¡°#oliveridleyturtle have time and again chosen us, it's our responsibility 2 repay the trust . Collectively need #habitat protection.¡±
One more concerned commenter wrote, ¡°@Naveen_Odisha Sir, They need to be protected and taken care off very well by officials concerned,so they keep returning again and again.¡±
One celebrated, ¡°Wow! What a scene to witness. So pleasing to watch.¡±