File picture of a female Olive Ridley turtle laying eggs at the Gahirmatha beach

Kendrapara, March 20: Olive Ridley turtles have arrived at the Gahirmatha beach today for their annual sojourn to lay eggs, much to the delight of wildlife lovers and forest officials.

The nesting beaches along the Nasi-1 and Nasi-2 Island close the missile test range centre at Wheeler’s Island are teeming with female turtles, which are moving towards the nesting beach. Digging pits with flippers, the turtles are laying eggs in millions.

Contrary to the apprehensions expressed from several quarters that turtles would skip their visit this time, the mass nesting began yesterday. An estimated 2.10-lakh female turtles were spotted digging pits for laying eggs. The process will go on for a week.

“Emerging from the sea waters, the female marine species have literally occupied the sandy beaches by force,” said Manoj Kumar Mahapatra, divisional forest officer, Rajnagar Mangrove (Wildlife) forest division.

To ensure the safety of the turtle eggs, a 600-metre net barricade has been erected along the casiruanna forest cover near the nesting ground. Wildlife staff is on round-the-clock vigil to keep predators such as jackals, hyena and wild dogs at bay.

The mass nesting of these species is expected to go on for more than a week. Visitors are barred from going to the nesting ground. Only forest personnel on turtle protection duty have access to the place.