CHENNAI: Wildlife authorities in Chennai and volunteers of Students Sea Turtle Conservation Network (SSTCN) sighted 20 Olive Ridley sea turtle nests on Thursday and collected 2,220 eggs. These nests were located on the stretch between Besant Nagar and Adyar estuary area.
Chennai wildlife warden E Prasant said, after many years, the beach patrolling team, along with SSTCN volunteers, identified 20 nests in this stretch on a single night, which is rare. Last year, anti-poaching watchers in Pulicat (Pazhaverkadu) located 24 nests on a single night and collected more than 2,500 eggs, he said.
The anti-poaching watchers of the forest department, during their turtle walk, located six nests between Neelankarai and Besant Nagar and another seven between Besant Nagar and Adyar estuary area. The SSTCN volunteers found seven more on the Marina beach, Prasant said.
The anti-poaching watchers and the volunteers take the turtle walk on two time slots. The volunteers begin the walk at 11 pm and continue till 2.30 am. The anti-poaching watchers then take over and continue the walk between Napier Bridge and Neelankarai, covering 25km, till 5.30 am.
A SSTCN volunteers said the collected eggs were safely kept in the pits created for hatching them in Besant Nagar and Neelankarai in the city. After 45 days these eggs will start hatching and the hatchlings will be released into the sea after dark.
Explaining the reason for releasing the hatchlings late in the evening, Prasant said the hatchlings will become easy prey for crows and other birds if they were released during the day.
