Favourable climate and protection by nature has provided hopes
that rate of hatching of Olive ridley eggs at Rushikulya rookery
coast would be quite high this year. It may be noted that
Rushikulya rookery coast is one of the major mass nesting sites
of Olive ridley turtles on eastern coast of India. This year
mass nesting of Olive ridleys had started at this coast from
February 12 . According to Berhampur Divisional Forest Officer
(DFO) S.S.Mishra, this year around three lakh mother Olive
ridleys have laid eggs at this coast. The mass nesting had
continued for around a week and on February 15 mass nesting had
also occurred during day time which was unique. Strike by ground
level forest personnel has not affected ‘watch and vigil’ of
these three lakh Olive ridley nests at this large stretch of
beach, said Berhampur DFO. It may be noted that forest staff
under the banner of Odisha Non-Gazetted Forest Services
Association are continuing strike since past two weeks.
According to Mr. Mishra nature has also provide