Olive Ridley turtle hatchlings at Gahirmatha. Telegraph picture

Kendrapara, April 19: The tranquil Gahirmatha beach off Bay of Bengal coast now faces a unique natural heritage — the emergence of babies without their mothers.

Baby Olive Ridley marine turtles have begun breaking out of eggshells since yesterday, marking the culmination of annual rendezvous of these marine species along Gahirmatha.

The hatchlings have begun emerging from their nests at the nesting grounds at southeastern Nasi islands of Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary, wildlife officials informed today.

“Adverse weather conditions have prevented the forest personnel from witnessing the natural phenomenon. The area is now inaccessible because of rough sea and tide-infested rivulet. However, the forest patrol squad is stationed at the desolate beach to ensure the safe seaward voyage of the turtles’ hatchlings,” said Manoj Kumar Mahapatra, divisional forest officer, Rajnagar mangrove (wildlife) division.

The wildlife guards of Bhitarkanika National Park stationed at these nesting grounds are sole witness to this unique natural phenomenon involving the birth of baby turtles without their mothers.

“The emergence of the hatchlings from eggshells is expected to continue for at least three to four more days. As the forest guards informed us, the newly born hatchlings are slowly coming out of their eggshells. They were found loitering around the beach before finally plunging into the seawater,” said Mahapatra.

Earlier on February, an estimated 3.6 lakh turtles had embarked on their annual sojourn at the Gahirmatha beach for mass nesting as the female turtles had dug out pits to lay eggs. After the nesting, the mother turtles had made seaward journey leaving the eggs to incubate naturally.