Goemkarponn desk
CANACONA: The figures may look astronomical, but the two Turtle Rehabilitation Centres (TRC) of Agonda and Galgibaga in Canacona have protected 230 Turtle Pits, three of which are still awaiting hatchlings to come out on Saturday.
Agonda TRC, which had received a magnanimous and a record of 181 turtle Pits protecting as many as 18022 Olive Ridley Eggs, still has two Pits which were transplanted in the Nursery on the 15th of April, are expected anytime now for the hatchlings to come out.
Similarly, out of the 42 Pits (another record-breaking mother flapper visits) with as many 4245 eggs protected at Galgibaga TRC, One pit with as many as 124 eggs, which mother turtle came as late as early morning (4 am) of 12th of May is being exclusively protected at a safe site of the Nursery.
Though the Turtle nesting season has officially come to an end, young ones from the two turtle nests which are already over 55 days old at Agonda TRC are expected any time of these days. The arrival of monsoons, however, can prove detrimental to the hatching of these eggs, which will be noticed in a couple of more days now. We are however optimistic that babies will begin to come out of the two Pits,’ informed a source at the TRC.
Interestingly, the lone Galgibaga turtle nest was received very late (12 May), and the forest-appointed staff has protected the same at a higher location, where even the cyclonic sea waves nor rainwater won’t affect its procreation period. If the situation favours it, the source at Galgibaga said the pit is expected to hatch sometime in the first week of July.
Interestingly, the Forest (Wildlife) department has also protected around another 7 Turtle pits in unreported locations of the Canacona coast, with 585 eggs, and 429 olive ridley babies (Hatchlings) have been released into the Sea. 118 eggs however failed to hatch, while another 38 small ones succumbed in the pits itself.
