Chennai, Feb 28( BPNS)
The Olive Ridley Turtles which is an endangered species according to the International Union For Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has delayed its hatching due to the increase in soil temperature at Nagapattinam and nearby areas where it is found to have nested in large numbers.
Scientists and researchers who are studying the nestling of Olive Ridley Turtles said that the soil temperature in Nagapattinam area has touched 34 degree Celsius which has hindered its hatching.
Around 50,000 eggs are laid by Olive Ridley Turtles that reach the Nagapattinam beach areas in November 2022 and generally the hatchlings comes out in 42 to 70 days for the eggs to hatch.
Experts who are into detailed research on Olive Ridley Turtles are of the opinion that soil temperature in nestling area is a major factor for these turtles. According to a researcher, soil temperature in nesting areas even determine the gender of the turtles. Turtles are born male if the soil temperature in the nesting area is less than 29 degree Celsius and if above that it will be a female.
Interestingly the female Olive Ridley Turtles return back to the beach where it was released into the sea as a hatchling after 15 years. This phenomenon is called ‘site fidelity’.
The Tamil Nadu forest department is taking extreme care to prevent poachers destroy the nests of Olive Ridley Turtles and in Nagapattinam and Sirkazhi the turtles have nested in large numbers.
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