Olive ridley turtles nest peacefully on empty beaches

The endangered olive ridley turtles seem to be another beneficiary of the current pandemic. Representatives of this endangered species have appeared in great numbers on deserted beaches on the Indian coast, where, undisturbed, the amphibians have proceeded to lay their eggs.

The beaches in the state of Orissa, located in the eastern part of India on the waters of the Bay of Bengal, are the place where olive ridley turtles come to nest. Unfortunately, the progressive development of civilisation and the tearing away of further wild areas from nature has effectively disrupted the traditional turtle life cycle and last year the animals did not appear at all.

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The situation is different now, when due to the epidemiological threat people are sitting at home and a 21-day ‘lockdown’ is in force. Thanks to this, beaches and many other places usually bustling with life have become friendly and attractive to representatives of wild fauna again.

The Indian forest department has reported that a total of more than 70,000 turtles have come ashore to take part in a day’s nesting. This is an unusual case where the animals can lay their eggs and give birth to their offspring in complete peace and undisturbed by anyone.

Usually, the beaches where the turtles lay their eggs are swarming with locals and tourists who want to watch the whole process up close. It is now routine for the authorities, in an attempt to protect the animals during this sensitive period, to use considerable resources to keep onlookers away.

The current ban is therefore a real stroke of luck because, given the raging epidemic, this magnificent species of sea turtle has a unique opportunity to increase its population. And all under conditions that could only be dreamed of before.

^{Source: businessinsider.in
Photo: Claudio Giovenzana/www.longwalk.it}