Berhampur: The hatching process of olive ridley eggs have begun and thousands of baby turtles crawled their way to the sea from Rushikulya Rookery in Ganjam district under Berhampur Forest Division.

"About 12,000 to 35,000 baby endangered olive ridley turtles began their maiden return sojourn into the deep sea on Friday. The mass hatching of eggs in lakhs is expected to begin from Saturday or Sunday night," said Berhampur divisional forest officer Asish Kumar Behera.

This year, the mass nesting of the sea turtles from February 20 to 27 had crossed all the records in Rushikulya Rookery. The number stood at 4,45,091. "We are expecting about 4 crore babies in the hatching process this year," said Behera. Hatchlings emerge about 53 days after the mother turtle lays the eggs. But it was delayed due to summer drizzles during the past few days which lengthened the incubation period from the usual 45 days. Buried under the sand, the eggs use ambient heat of the beach for incubation. Rainfall reduced the temperature of the eggs in the nests. "As per their instinct, hatchlings move towards the sea after coming out of the sand. However, if they sense bright light on land they tend to head towards the source rather than moving towards the sea," Behera said.

In all, 150 forest department staff have been deployed in the area for smooth hatching process. "Six closed circuit television cameras are being fitted at two places, including two in Podempeta and four in Gokharkuda, to check human intervention. Three special barricaded zones have been constructed for visitors at Bateswar, Podampeta and Gokhakuda as lakhs of eggs are buried under the beach. Visitors are allowed to watch the mass hatching process only from a distance. Use of mobile phones by visitors has also been banned," Behera said.