Forest Department personnel and members of Coastal Security Group (CSG) released young Olive Ridley hatchlings, which were hatched in the Forest Department’s hatchery at Panjal in the district, into the sea on Sunday.
As Olive Ridley turtles lay eggs along the sandy beaches of Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts between November and March every year, the Forest Department, in association with the CSG, organises a series of awareness programmes in the coastal villages of these two districts with the objective of stopping poaching of turtles.
After collecting the eggs, the forest personnel will take them to the hatchery at Panjal, a coastal hamlet near Koodankulam, and get them hatched under protected conditions. The hatchlings will then be released into the sea.
“During the awareness meetings being organised in the coastal villages, the forest personnel will explain in detail to the coastal population the pivotal role being played by the turtles in maintaining a balanced marine ecosystem, which is essential for fish breeding. Since the fishermen have understood the need for conserving turtles, poaching has been stopped to the maximum possible extent,” says N.K. Stanley Jones, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Coastal Security Group.
As a set of eggs kept in the hatchery at Panjal hatched recently, the hatchlings were released into the sea on Sunday.
“We’ve so far released more than 1,000 young ones after Panjal hatchery started functioning,” said an employee.
