Only one hole recorded in Agonda Turtle Nursery since November 16

Canacona: The new turtle nesting season has got off to a slow start as the turtle rehabilitation center in Agonda has recorded only one pit with about 150 turtle eggs since November 16.

According to forest (wildlife) sources, an Olive Ridley turtle visited the southern part of the 2.9 km long beach of Agonda at around 6 am on November 16 and laid her eggs.

Workers employed by the forest department took possession of 150 eggs and transferred them to the hatchery, where they were placed in a pit at the tortoise rehabilitation centre. The pit will be protected until the eggs hatch after 55–58 days.

Second Turtle Nursery

Canacona’s second turtle nursery at Galgibaga, which is also the headquarters of the Marine Range (South Goa), has not yet been visited by Olive Ridley turtles during this season.

Turtle nesting season usually begins in September–October and continues through April–May.

It may be noted that a record 92 pits were preserved at the Agonda and Galgibaga tortoise rehabilitation centers in Canacona, with Agonda alone preserving a record 67 pits for the last tortoise nesting season. A total of 8,673 olive ridley hatchlings were released from two tortoise nurseries in Canacona, out of 9,995 eggs preserved in 92 pits.