Olive Ridley Turtle Lays 114 Eggs at Puri Blue Flag Beach for First Time

Puri: In a positive development for marine conservation, an Olive Ridley sea turtle laid eggs at the Blue Flag Beach in Puri for the first time, officials said on Sunday.

According to reports, the turtle came ashore late on Saturday night and laid around 114 eggs on the beach. The nesting activity was first noticed by the Blue Flag Beach staff, who immediately secured the area and kept the eggs under close watch throughout the night to prevent any disturbance.

Officials of the Forest Department reached the spot on Sunday morning and safely collected the eggs. The eggs were later shifted to a designated hatchery for proper incubation and protection.

As part of conservation measures for Olive Ridley turtles, the Forest Department has established 13 hatcheries along the Puri coastline, stretching from the Devi river mouth to Puri. These hatcheries have been set up to ensure the safe incubation of eggs and to improve the survival rate of hatchlings.

Authorities have also implemented several precautionary measures along the coastline to ensure that the endangered Olive Ridley turtles can come ashore without disturbance during the nesting season.

Wildlife experts and conservationists have welcomed the development, describing it as a positive sign for the protection and conservation of the species along the Odisha coast.