Paradip, Dec. 27: Wildlife officials have noticed sporadic nesting by olive ridley turtles at the Gahirmatha beach, ahead of the mass nesting phenomena.

Each year, olive ridleys turn up in large numbers to lay eggs during January and February along the Gahirmatha beach, which is the world's largest known rookery of these marine animals.

'Small group of turtles have crawled to the nesting beach at Nasi-2 island and have begun laying eggs. Sporadic nesting of turtles is a positive sign and a prelude to en-masse emergence of turtles for laying eggs. The wildlife officials are optimistic of the occurrence of mass-nesting or arribada within the next 50 to 60 days,' said Kedar Kumar Swain, officer of the Rajnagar Mangrove (wildlife) forest division.

The ground-level employees are keeping a vigil on the beach to save the nests from predators, he said.

These endangered marine species had skipped their mass-nesting trip to Gahirmatha last year.

The turtles continue to prefer Odisha coast for breeding and nesting, but nothing much is known about their destination once they leave the Odisha coast after laying eggs.

The pairs of turtles are still being sighted along the Gahirmatha marine sanctuary seawaters. Turtle protection squads are on the job to guard the prohibited marine sanctuary seawaters with fishing activities being banned to ensure their safety.

Turtle-patrolling operation is on in full swing in joint co-ordination with the Paradip coast guard, state marine police and the marine fishing wing. Nineteen turtle protection camps have been brought up along the coast. Over 100 sea-going fishermen have been arrested and 19 trawlers seized for infiltrating into the turtles' habitation corridors, an official said.