Times of India | 1 year ago | 01-01-2022 | 04:28 am
Poinguinim: As lights and din are a hindrance to the nesting process, an Olive Ridley turtle preferred to lay its eggs at Agonda beach in the early hours of Friday. The turtle appeared at 4.30am and after laying 114 eggs disappeared into the sea. Soon after, this first turtle nesting pit for the season was enclosed by forest officials at Agonda, range forest officer (wildlife) Anant Velip said. The alert forest staff stationed at the Turtle Interpretation Centre at Agonda beach, were constantly on a look out for any new turtle eggs, and soon shifted them to a guarded enclosure for hatching. Velip said the turtles prefer Agonda beach over Galgibaga, which was once the main beach in Canacona for turtle nesting. It was here that turtle eggs began to be protected since 1999 under the alert leadership of the then parish priest of Galgibaga church, Fr Mariano Goes e Proenca. Last season, the first turtle had appeared at Agonda on January 7 and had laid 127 eggs, and within the next 32 days, as many as 13 Olive Ridley turtles visited Agonda beach past midnight to lay their eggs. In the last season, Agonda beach witnessed 35 turtle pits, which has been the centre’s best season. Its earlier high was 19 turtle nests during 2017-18. Galgibaga was in the limelight with its first turtle nest preserved on December 23, last season. Some fishermen from Agonda told TOI that since tourist activities are projected to be on a low this year, it will give the turtles a better opportunity to lay their eggs.
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