* Canacona’s two sites together protect 160 Pits
Team Goemkarponn
CANACONA: The twin Canacona’s Turtle Nesting sites witnesses a huge boost of turnout of mother turtles to lay eggs, even as 913 young hatchlings are released from amongst the 16095eggs it protects in 160 pits at the Turtle Rehabilitation Centre’s (TRC) of Agonda and Galgibaga.
At Agonda alone 119 Turtle pits with 11654 eggs are protected, while 41 pits with 4441 eggs are taken care of at Galgibaga TRC which incidentally is also the headquarters of South Marine Range of Forest Department (Wildlife).
At Agonda around 10 pits have hatched 684 young one’s and 3 pits at Galgibaga have hatched 229 hatchlings taking between 48-55 days for procreation period.
So far, just about 114 eggs have failed to hatch with a maximum of 82 at Agonda nesting site, and 116 young one’s have succumbed at birth with a maximum of 110 in Agonda.
Agonda has 119 pits and has already released 684 and Galgibaga TRC released 229 hatchlings, respectively to the Sea.
Incidentally, the jubilant team of Forests consisting of South Goa Marine Range RFO Rajesh V Naik, Forest Guard Ankush Karapurkar, Marine Biologist Nestor Fernandes and South Goa Marine Range staff took part and have released 84 nos of hatchlings ( baby turtles) on the night of Monday (10.03.2025) at Agonda Beach
‘So far, I would say that the nesting season is going well. We are expecting to get more nests in the coming months, and we hope to have as successful nesting season as last year or even better than last year’, informed South Marine Range officer RFO Rajesh Naik.
Naik further informed that compared to last year, this year, the forest department is more prepared and has great forest staff and experts dedicated to improving and managing this nesting season. ‘We thank our marine experts, Nester Fernandes and Xavier Dsouza, as well as all the local fishermen of both the beach coasts, the Drishti lifeguards, KCIC staff, tourists, and visitors who have assisted us this nesting season by reporting, protecting, and keeping the beaches clean. A special thanks to media reporters for covering this season, spreading awareness, and ensuring the public stays informed about the importance of sea turtle conservation’.
