#ashokasays Did you know 290:
A visit to Odisha, should definitely have this place included in the itinerary.
INCREDIBLE BHARATHA
Olive Ridleys are
probably the most abundant sea turtle species globally. The
olive ridley is a small sea turtle, with an adult carapace length
averaging 60 to 70 cm and weighs about 70kgs. Their life span is around
50 years.
The olive ridley turtle has a circumtropical distribution, living in tropical and warm waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. They are widely seen many countries in the vicinity of these oceans.
Historically, this species has been widely regarded as the most abundant sea turtle in the world. More than one million olive ridleys were commercially harvested off the coasts of Mexico in 1968 alone. The population of Pacific Mexico was estimated to be at least 10 million prior to the era of mass exploitation. More recently, the global population of annual nesting females has been reduced to about two million by 2004, and was further reduced to 852,550 by 2008.
In one of nature's greatest spectacles, during January-February each year, Olive Ridleys come ashore simultaneously by the thousands and millions to nest and that happens in a beach in Odisha, India.
Gahirmatha Beach is a beach in Odisha. The beach separates the Bhitarkanika mangroves from the Bay of Bengal and is the world's most important and largest nesting beach for Olive Ridley Sea Turtles. The beach is part of Gahirmatha Marine Wildlife Sanctuary, which also includes the adjacent portion of the Bay of Bengal.
Olive Ridley sea turtles come to this part of Odisha coast for nesting in huge numbers. Hence the activity is termed 'mass nesting' or 'arribada'. There are many nesting sites world wide. But Worldwide attention is focused on the conservation of Olive Ridley Sea Turtle in Odisha because about 50% of the total world population of Olive Ridleys, and 90% of the Indian population of sea turtles come here every year to nest. It was a record in 1991, that over 600,000 turtles nested along the coast of Odisha in one week.
Apart from Gahirmatha rookery, two other mass nesting beaches have been located which are on the mouth of rivers Rushikulya and Devi. The spectacular site of mass and rare mass congregation of Olive Ridley sea turtles for mating and nesting enthralls both the scientists and the nature lovers throughout the world. This unique phenomenon is hardly seen anywhere in the world.
The sea turtles migrate thousands of kilometres to meet both the ends. It has been observed that Olive Ridley sea turtles migrate from the coastal water of Sri Lanka in the Indian ocean to the coastal water of Gahirmatha in the north.
Mating starts Immediately after the arrival of ridley sea turtles in the coastal water of Gahirmatha, they indulge in matting activities. A female will continue to mate with several males throughout the breeding season. Mostly the mating pairs are seen off the coast.
Each turtle scoop the soft sand to a depth of 45 cm with the help of flippers and release 100 to 180 eggs. But not all eggs remain intact as predators devour it. It takes about 50-60 days for the eggs to hatch. After the emergence of hatchlings, they immediately head for the open sea. The tiny replicas of turtles are in a frenzy to enter the sea water. This is the most spectacular sight. During this period large scale mortality of hatchlings take place. It is studied that 1 in 1000 survives as bigger fishes, ghost crabs or seagulls either predates the hatchlings.
The olive ridley turtle has a circumtropical distribution, living in tropical and warm waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. They are widely seen many countries in the vicinity of these oceans.
Historically, this species has been widely regarded as the most abundant sea turtle in the world. More than one million olive ridleys were commercially harvested off the coasts of Mexico in 1968 alone. The population of Pacific Mexico was estimated to be at least 10 million prior to the era of mass exploitation. More recently, the global population of annual nesting females has been reduced to about two million by 2004, and was further reduced to 852,550 by 2008.
In one of nature's greatest spectacles, during January-February each year, Olive Ridleys come ashore simultaneously by the thousands and millions to nest and that happens in a beach in Odisha, India.
Gahirmatha Beach is a beach in Odisha. The beach separates the Bhitarkanika mangroves from the Bay of Bengal and is the world's most important and largest nesting beach for Olive Ridley Sea Turtles. The beach is part of Gahirmatha Marine Wildlife Sanctuary, which also includes the adjacent portion of the Bay of Bengal.
Olive Ridley sea turtles come to this part of Odisha coast for nesting in huge numbers. Hence the activity is termed 'mass nesting' or 'arribada'. There are many nesting sites world wide. But Worldwide attention is focused on the conservation of Olive Ridley Sea Turtle in Odisha because about 50% of the total world population of Olive Ridleys, and 90% of the Indian population of sea turtles come here every year to nest. It was a record in 1991, that over 600,000 turtles nested along the coast of Odisha in one week.
Apart from Gahirmatha rookery, two other mass nesting beaches have been located which are on the mouth of rivers Rushikulya and Devi. The spectacular site of mass and rare mass congregation of Olive Ridley sea turtles for mating and nesting enthralls both the scientists and the nature lovers throughout the world. This unique phenomenon is hardly seen anywhere in the world.
The sea turtles migrate thousands of kilometres to meet both the ends. It has been observed that Olive Ridley sea turtles migrate from the coastal water of Sri Lanka in the Indian ocean to the coastal water of Gahirmatha in the north.
Mating starts Immediately after the arrival of ridley sea turtles in the coastal water of Gahirmatha, they indulge in matting activities. A female will continue to mate with several males throughout the breeding season. Mostly the mating pairs are seen off the coast.
Each turtle scoop the soft sand to a depth of 45 cm with the help of flippers and release 100 to 180 eggs. But not all eggs remain intact as predators devour it. It takes about 50-60 days for the eggs to hatch. After the emergence of hatchlings, they immediately head for the open sea. The tiny replicas of turtles are in a frenzy to enter the sea water. This is the most spectacular sight. During this period large scale mortality of hatchlings take place. It is studied that 1 in 1000 survives as bigger fishes, ghost crabs or seagulls either predates the hatchlings.
You can watch the video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?
No comments:
Post a Comment