Forest ranger trainees learn ways to save Olive Ridley eggs

The beginning of the season is marked by a countless pairs of turtles mating in water and the females swim ashore to dig pits, lay eggs and immediately walk back to the sea. They do not wait to see their tiny ones scramble out of the eggs into the sandy world after nearly seven weeks. 

Once out of their eggs, the tiny turtles take a long walk towards the water. It is here they are often preyed on by birds and stray dogs. 

Some are caught in fishing nets and others get disoriented by artificial light from nearby land. To boost the babies’ chances of survival, the forest department and conservation groups guard the nesting sites. 

Forest Ranger trainees attached to Kundal Academy of Development Administration and Management (Forest), Maharashtra, visited Rameswaram and its neighbouring islands to have a hands-on training on conservation of various marine organisms, including turtle eggs, on Monday. 

They visited hatcheries that have been set up at many places in Rameswaram and Dhanushkodi. According to Sathish, Mandapam Forest Ranger, who is in-charge of the training in Rameswaram and Gulf of Mannar, the trainees participated in a ‘Turtle Walk’ from 3.30 am to 6 am, on Monday. During the walk they collected 374 eggs in three nestlings. 

Following that they were taken to Dhanushkodi and various islands in Gulf of Mannar region, said Sathish. Neeta Katte, District Forest Officer (DFO) and in-charge of the trainees, said that the trainees are from Maharashtra, Kolkata and Assam. Their visit is a part of an ‘Induction Training Program’ and during their visit to Rameswaram and Gulf of Mannar islands, they were given training on corals. 

Trainees were also explained about various ongoing conservation programs undertaken by the Forest Department. After visiting Rameswaram they will leave for Kerala.