127 Ridley turtles let into sea from forest dept hatchery

NAGAPATTINAM (TN): A total of 127 Olive Ridley turtles, an endangered species bred in an artificial hatchery run by the forest department at nearby Kodiakarai were let into the sea today.

Kodiakarai and Vedaranyam areas in Nagapattinam coast attract a large number of Olive Ridleys every year during the nesting season, which begins in December and continues till March. Female Ridleys travel towards the coast to lay eggs.

Forest department sources said each female Ridley lays around 100 eggs and return to the sea. The hatching period ranges around 60 days. Predators like dogs, crows and vultures damage and eat the eggs. Most of the eggs get damaged and only a handful successfully hatch, they said.

They said the Department has set up egg collection centres at six points along Veadaranyam coast and that hundreds of eggs had been collected this year.