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Kendrapara, Jan. 18: Ekakula island, one of the most prominent nesting sites of the endangered Olive Ridley turtles in Gahirmatha marine sanctuary, has become out of bounds for foreign tourists. The state government has prohibited the entry of foreigners into the islands situated close to a vital defence installation for security reasons.
Even entry of domestic tourists into the area would be restricted and regulated, said Manoj Kumar Mahapatra, divisional forest officer (DFO), Rajnagar Mangrove (wildlife) forest division, under whose jurisdiction the island fails. The island’s serene and tranquil environment used to attract hordes of domestic and foreign tourists.
The Ekakula Island is situated close to Wheeler’s island that houses an intermediary missile test range centre. The island falls within the administrative jurisdiction of Gahirmatha sanctuary.
A senior forest official said the step was taken on the behest of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). “We have also restricted visits by domestic tourists,” he added.
The island with a virgin beach dotted by casuarinas trees is a major tourist attraction. There is a tourist bungalow near the beach. The forest department sets up a turtle surveillance centre on the uninhabited island every year.
“The blue sea and beach are a huge attraction. The casuarina forest raised by the department adds to the ambience. The forest is home to wild boars, jackals and hyenas. During morning and evening hours, dolphins can be spotted leaping out of water,” said the DFO.
A cluster of tiny islands — Nasi-1, Nasi-2, Babubali — are scattered along the Wheeler’s island defence installation.
However, the Ekkakula island is situated very close to the defence project necessitating its insulation from human activity.
The tranquil beaches of this uninhabited island are considered the most congenial habitat for the Olive Ridley turtles, the marine creatures flocking there in large numbers almost every year. However, sources said that rapid topographical changes caused by the play of waves has fragmented some of the beaches in the area threatening to squeeze the turtles’ nesting space.
Sources said that the shoreline of this island and some others situated nearby has undergone tremendous changes because of sand deposit with huge sand dunes emerging. While these can influence the behaviour of the sea waves, they have also added to the natural beauty of the place.
