127 Olive Ridley hatchlings released into sea in Valinokkam

Ramanathapuram SP releases 127 Olive Ridley hatchlings into sea, part of conservation program to protect sea turtles.

Ramanathapuram Superintendent of Police G. Chandeesh released 127 Olive Ridley hatchlings into the sea at Valinokkam near Keelakarai here on Tuesday. 

M.P. Senthilkumar, Keelakarai Forest Range Officer, said that of the 130 eggs laid by an 80-year-old Olive Ridley at Sheela Meenpaadu Hatchery, maintained by Tamil Nadu Biodiversity Conservation and Greening project under a sea turtle conservation programme, 127 eggs were engraved (marked) giving birth to 127 hatchlings. 

The 130 eggs which were laid by the turtle on January 17, after 55 days, got engraved, he added.  

More than 2,000 eggs which were protected in the area are to be hatched in the following days till end of April, Mr. Senthilkumar said.  “Including yesterday’s 127 Olive Ridley hatchlings, more than 350 hatchlings were released into the sea so far,” he added.  

As the area has an abundance of coral reefs, the waves would not be harsher so the turtle deaths occurring due to collision would be very less, he said.  

Further, as the area will be a protected zone during the breeding season, any activity related to fishing would not be allowed. So, to protect the eggs from human intrusion and other external factors, round-the-clock monitoring by Forest department personnel would be ensured, Mr. Senthilkumar said.