Bhubaneswar, March 14: All mass nesting sites of Olive Ridley turtles will remain closed in Odisha for visitors during the period of nesting till the hatchlings are born and released into the sea, principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife), Sushanta Nanda directed this on Wednesday.
The ban came in the wake of congregation of huge crowds at the nesting sites for photography and videography that affects the natural process of nesting and laying eggs of the rare species.
The nesting sites of Olive Ridley turtles are located at Rushikulya river mouth in Ganjam district, Gahirmatha beach in Kendrapara and Devi river mouth in Puri.
The mass nesting of turtles usually begins in March after the November-December mating season in deep sea. Every year lakhs of turtles visit the sites to lay eggs.
Olive Ridley sea turtles are protected under schedule-I of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and the activities that disturb their natural phenomenon of nesting come under the definition of ‘hunting’ as per provisions of the Act.
