Over 37,000 Olive Ridley turtle hatchlings released into sea in Chennai

Over 37,000 Olive Ridley turtle hatchlings released on Chennai coast, conservation efforts paying off with record numbers.

As dusk descended on the Chennai coast on Friday, over a hundred Olive Ridley turtle hatchlings were gently released from baskets at a hatchery at Elliot’s Beach in Besant Nagar and made their way into the sea. While some swiftly crawled into the water, others hesitated, glancing around as if they were reluctant to leave their birthplace. Yet, one by one, they all eventually made their way towards their one true home.

So far, over 37,000 Olive Ridley hatchlings have been released along the Chennai coast, despite a challenging start to the season, which runs from December to May. During January and February, hundreds of turtle carcasses washed ashore, a troubling sign for conservationists. “It was a worrisome time for us, with so many dead turtles,” said Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary to the Departments of Environment, Climate Change, and Forests.

However, with the continued efforts of the Forest Department and collaborations with other departments such as the Fisheries Department and the Indian Coast Guard, the number of nesting turtles have rebounded. As a result, a record number of hatchlings have now been released.

According to official data, as of April 29, a total of 3,19,895 eggs have been collected across Tamil Nadu, with 2,29,432 hatchlings released back into the sea. Cuddalore led the way with 81,622 hatchlings, followed by Mayiladuthurai with 38,582, and Chennai with 37,689 hatchlings. For comparison, in 2024, Chennai had released 38,230 hatchlings by the start of June, and Tamil Nadu as a whole had released 2,15,778 hatchlings, fewer than this year.

Ms. Sahu outlined future strategies to further enhance conservation efforts, including turtle telemetry studies, the continuation of the Turtle Task Force, and the formation of a marine protection force for the Chennai region, as recently announced in the Assembly. “One key area for improvement is better planning with local municipalities and corporations for waste management, beach cleaning, and dimming beach lights,” she added.

Chief Wildlife Warden Rakesh Kumar Dogra said a new mobile app for turtle data collection would help the Forest Department and volunteers track crucial information such as nest width, depth, and temperature. The data is important to replicate ideal conditions at hatcheries and ensure the turtles’ survival.