Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government has closed the mass nesting sites of Olive Ridley Sea turtles for visitors in order to stop crowding and provide suitable environment for the reptiles.
The prohibition will remain during the period of nesting till emergence of hatchlings is completed.
“It is seen that visitors going to mass nesting sites of Olive Ridley Sea turtles for the purpose of observing the phenomena of nesting and hatchling emergence are using bright lights for observation and photography/ videography of the turtles. In some cases, inappropriate behaviour of visitors is observed. These activities together with crowding of the nesting sites would disturb the normal process of turtle nesting and hatchling emergence to great extent,” the government said in an official order.
“Olive Ridley Sea turtle is protected under Schedule-I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and the aforementioned activities come under the definition of ‘hunting’ as per provisions of Section-2(16) prohibited Under Section-9 of the said Act,” the order said.
“In view of the above, it is ordered that all the mass nesting sites of Olive Ridley Sea turtles shall be closed for the visitors forthwith during the period of nesting till emergence of hatchlings is completed,” the order added.
