SunstarTV(Bureau):-Olive Ridley sea turtles have started mating off on the sea surface of Gahirmatha Odisha’s only Turtle Sanctuary in Kendrapada district.
According to the forest range officer, Debashis Bhoi, these turtles started mating in November and after end of mating, male turtle returns back to the sea where as female turtle stay on the sea surface to lay eggs.
The Gahirmatha beach has been a cradle to adult sea turtles and their babies since time immemorial. These turtles are known for the epic journeys that they undertake annually to breed and recuperate.
For protecting these mating turtles, forest department has banned fishing up to a distance of 20km from the coastline of Gahirmatha sanctuary from November 1 to May 31, 2021.
It is a fascinating experience to watch these creatures crawling out of the deep sea, laboring, selecting a site, digging holes, laying almost 200 eggs, covering the area and crawling back to the sea.
