Dwarka, a coastal district in Gujarat, is taking significant steps to protect its marine turtles, particularly the Green Turtle and Olive Ridley Turtle. The turtle conservation centre at Okhamadhi has been active since 2012, aiming to hatch and release around 80,000 turtles back into the sea by 2025. There are two hatcheries in Dwarka – one at Okhamadhi and another at Navadra. These facilities are critical for maintaining the turtle population in the region.
Staff from the forest department, including forest guards and range forest officers, diligently monitor these hatcheries. They ensure that the environment is suitable for turtle nesting. The conservation efforts are not only about protecting these creatures but also about raising awareness among the public regarding their significance and the need for conservation.
Turtles are more than just a part of marine biodiversity; they hold cultural significance in Indian mythology. For instance, Lord Vishnu’s second avatar is that of a tortoise, known as Kurma. Every year, on May 23rd, “World Turtle Day” is celebrated to draw attention to the need for protection and development of turtle populations.
In India, there are seven types of sea turtles, with five species found in its waters. Gujarat alone is home to four species, with the Green Turtle and Olive Ridley Turtle being prominent along Dwarka’s coast. The unique environment of this region, with its right sand type and temperature, provides an ideal habitat for turtles to lay their eggs.
The hatchery at Okhamadhi began operations in 2012-2013. Here, forest officials collect eggs found in the sand along the beach and transport them to the hatchery for protection. The Olive Ridley Turtle is less common, comprising only about 2% of the turtle population here, while the Green Turtle is more prevalent.
During the egg-laying season, female turtles come ashore to nest between September and April. They dig holes in the sand and lay between 80 to 160 eggs, which they then cover with sand for protection. To safeguard these eggs, forest department staff regularly patrol the beach, digging up the nests to relocate the eggs to the hatchery, where they are kept in artificial nests for 45 to 60 days until they hatch.
Since 2012, a total of around 160,000 eggs have been collected, resulting in approximately 80,000 hatchlings released back into the sea. In the current season, 83 nests have been collected, yielding 7,891 eggs, with around 6,000 hatchlings already released.
The conservation of sea turtles is vital for maintaining marine ecosystems. Sea turtles play a crucial role in the health of ocean environments. They help maintain the seagrass beds, which are essential for other marine life. However, the mysteries of their life cycle remain largely unknown to us, particularly the details of their journey from hatching to adulthood.
As responsible citizens, it is essential to protect these marine creatures by reducing plastic use and not littering along the beaches. If any harmful activities are observed that could endanger turtles, it is important to report them to the local forest officers. The conservation efforts in Dwarka are a testament to the commitment needed to protect our planet’s biodiversity.
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