The first batch of 118 newborn Olive Ridley turtles, an endangered species, were let out into the sea off the coastal village of Narambai here by forest and wildlife officials.
The 118 turtle eggs had been preserved in the forest department's hatchery set up in the village and were among 888 eggs collected between Kalapet and Kanniakoil coastal hamlets over the past few months, Deputy Conservator of Forests G Sathyamoorthy, who led the team, said.
He said the department, in association with local community and youth volunteers had collected the eggs.
"The eggs normally take 45 to 50 days to hatch and the first batch of the newborn turtles has been released into the sea," he said.
The remaining eggs were preserved in an artificial hatchery, which has trained staff, the Deputy Conservator said.
The annual mass nesting or en masse laying of eggs by
Olive Ridley turtles is expected to occur very soon.
"We hope to get the clearances shortly (from the ministries) so that these crafts could be used for the safety of the endangered marine creature," DFO Acharya said.
At present, the forest department is hard-pressed to intensify sea patrolling for turtle protection.
While the forest department owns two sea-worthy vessels, Dhamra port has come forward in providing a vessel. But three vessels are not adequate for the purpose, a forest official said.
Interceptor boats would have given the much-needed push to turtle patrolling, said the forest official.
Gahirmatha beach off Bay of Bengal coast is world's largest-known nesting ground of Olive Ridley Turtles.
Apart from Gahirmatha, these threatened aquatic animals turn up at Rushikulya river mouth and Devi river mouth for mass nesting.
