WWF-India started the turtle conservation program for the season in the first week of December 2008, off the Rushikulaya shores. Sorties into the sea were made once every seven days, to monitor the shifting turtle congregation. The information on the congregation was shared with the motorized fishermen of Kontiagarh, Gokhurkuda and Purunabandh along with a request to them, not to fish in those areas.
The Sorties ended once the mass nesting started i.e. on the night of 14th February 2009. The ‘arribada’ (mass nesting) lasted for a period of six days, during which our volunteers were patrolling the rookery (nested area) 24 X 7 to keep off feral dogs, jackals and hyenas from the rookery. We installed a 3 kilometer long mesh net fence extending from the water body at Gokhurkuda shore to halfway up Kantiagarh on the north and another from the Forest Dept. watch camp located at the southern tip of Gokhurkuda shore to halfway up to Purunabandh on the south. A deep water body had developed naturally in between the two stretches of nets which could not be crossed by land predators. Four gates had been provided along the fence to allow local villagers to go back and forth from sea. Our volunteers patrolled the rookery to ensure that there is no forceful intrusion by land predators. The fence proved to be more useful at night as there was no visual coverage over a large stretch of beach. This made the rookery quite safe from the predators. I guided His Excellency, Sri Murlidhar C. Bhandare, (the State Governor) around the rookery during the nesting and he greatly appreciated our increasing conservation activities and efforts.
The hatching started from the 3rd of April, 2009. Hatchlings emerged from nests starting from early evening, peaked through the night and thinned out by dawn. At night generally hatchlings found their way to the sea safely. The dusk and mornings were vital, as the entire team, donning gloves on their hands, had to scurry all over the rookery to pick up hatchings as they emerge. We had to reach the hatchlings before they were picked up by avian predators hovering overhead. We occasionally burst crackers to drive off the avian predators. The hatchlings were released near the waves to allow them for safe passage into the sea. We had installed awareness signage at tourist entry points to sensitize them on the do’s and don’ts while at the rookery.
We had initiated an award for the best team of volunteers and it was presented at the end of the project. This was in memory of recently departed Mr. W. Krishna, a community volunteer who was a very dedicated team leader for the past three years of our Turtle Conservation at Rushikulaya Rookery. A community feast with the team of volunteers and village elders concluded the event.
For more information, please contact:
Michael Peters
Moblie: 09437076597
E-mail: mpeters@wwfindia.net
Turtle Conservation at Rushikulay, Orissa- 2009
