Harbouring tenderness amid rough waters

One cannot look at an Olive Ridley turtle’s journey from the sea to a nesting site and the emergence of hatchlings from the eggs and not once think of the true strength that lies in the delicate. Perilous journey A documentary on marine turtle conservation made by the Visakhapatnam Division of AP Forest Department, titled ‘Saviours of the Sea –Tryst with the City of Destiny’, captures the journey of Olive Ridley turtles from the vast sea to the shore as they proceed for nesting their eggs. The increased use of nesting beaches for various developmental activities like the construction of jetties, sand mining and recreation poses a threat to the species.” PS RajasekharRetired professor “These turtles nest at river mouths in the vicinity of mangrove forests and isolated coastal strands during January, February and March. The increased use of nesting beaches for various developmental activities like construction of jetties, sand mining and recreation poses a threat to the species,” says PS Rajasekhar, a retired professor of the Department of Environmental Sciences, Andhra University, who has done extensive studies on the nesting habits of Olive Ridley turtles. The nesting Olive Ridley turtles migrate from the Indian Ocean to the mass nesting beaches located in Odisha through the coastal waters of Andhra Pradesh during the winter months, November to February.