For the first time in 20 years, at least 80 baby Olive Ridley turtles were spotted at Versova beach on Thursday morning, making their way to the sea.
Morning walkers and beach clean-up crusaders were pleasantly surprised on Thursday when they went to Versova beach and spotted newly hatched Olive Ridley turtles waddling into the sea. The hatchlings were first spotted by beach clean-up crusader Afroz Shah and his team around 9.30am near Sagar Kutir Wadi.
Conservationists and forest officials who greeted the news with scepticism, however, confirmed on Friday that the endangered species of turtles had indeed chosen the city’s Versova beach to nest.
According to information put out by the Mangrove Cell of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, eggshells of 103 Olive Ridley hatchlings were found buried in the sand on Versova beach. While 12 eggs had still not hatched, four eggs were broken with baby turtles still inside them.
Week 127 .
— Afroz Shah (@AfrozShah1) March 22, 2018
Fantastic news for Mumbai .
We got back Olive Ridley Sea Turtle after 20 years. Historic moment
Nested and Hatched at our beach. We facilitate their journey to ocean.
Constant cleaning helps marine species.
Marine conservation centre needed at @versovabeach pic.twitter.com/j79xCKamNh
Some 80 of the eggs hatched and the young turtles waddled into the sea. Volunteers who had taken up the task of cleaning up the beach more than two years ago, ensured that the newly hatched turtles were not hunted by crows or other birds of prey.
“Fantastic News for Mumbai. We got back Olive Ridley Sea turtles after 20 years. Historic Moment. Nested and Hatched at our beach. We facilitate their journey to ocean. Constant cleaning helps marine species,” Afroz Shah, an environmental activist who lead the clean-up of Versova beach, first broke the hatching of Olive Ridley turtles on social media.
Ridley's Believe it or not! pic.twitter.com/YbiWzGxci8
— S Ramachandran (@indiarama) March 23, 2018
Congrats. Great work! https://t.co/tpM901ZPbS
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) March 23, 2018
I have lived by the beach for years and I can confidently say that I have never seen such a beautiful sight! Thank you @AfrozShah1 for making the magic possible! Truly commendable! #SwachhBharat https://t.co/pJiIDnA8I4
— Priti Gandhi (@MrsGandhi) March 22, 2018
Heartened by this news. Kudos for a job well done đđŒ https://t.co/IFq98VdLdG
— Milind Deora (@milinddeora) March 23, 2018
Can there be any clearer evidence of the link between cleanliness & the vitality & renewal of life? Everything & everyone is connected in this circle of nature. This is a sign of great hope for this city. I salute the heroes of Versova! https://t.co/8BMtKY3cSH
— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) March 23, 2018
According to forest officials, Olive Ridley turtles return to nest at the same beaches were they were born. The turtles come to the beach on the dead of night and bury the eggs deep in the sand. When the eggs hatch, the hatchings scurry out of the pit and make their way en masse into the sea.
Environmentalists say, Mumbai’s beaches were nesting sites for Olive Ridley turtles years ago.
