Climate Change impact: Olive Ridley turtles skip mass nesting due to rise in temperature

Climate change is not only affecting human habitation but a major impact is also being felt on animals and other earthly creatures. Due to the ongoing massive heat wave, rise in temperature and shrinking of the beach, Olive Ridley sea turtles are likely to skip from mass nesting this time. Wildlife authorities of Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary (KWS) have launched an exercise to conserve the endangered Olive Ridley turtles.

According to the authorities, 139 artificial nests have been arranged in the three rookeries set up at Sangameswaram, lighthouse area, and Jinkapalem of Nagayalanka mandal as part of the in situ conservation method. As the mass nesting of the Olive Ridley turtles may not happen this year.

Olive Ridley sea turtles generally lay eggs in mass during March or April. But, the persistent rise in mercury has become a major impediment for mass nesting at the favourite nesting ground of this species.

The officials so far have documented collection of 4,259 eggs near the Sangameswaram nesting point, 3,847 eggs near the lighthouse, and 2,465 eggs near Jinkapalem.