Hatcheries Set Up to Protect Olive Ridley Turtles

Hatcheries have been set up in Chennai to protect Olive Ridley turtles during their nesting season. These hatcheries help keep turtle eggs safe until they hatch and the baby turtles are released into the sea.

The hatchery at Besant Nagar is already fully ready and functioning. In addition, new hatcheries will soon be set up at Neelankarai, Kovalam, and Pulicat. A Forest Department official said that the hatchery at Pulicat is almost complete and will be ready shortly.

To better understand the nesting conditions, temperature data loggers will be placed in some turtle nests at a few hatcheries. These devices will record the temperature around the eggs. Officials want to check whether the surrounding temperature is suitable for the healthy development of turtle eggs.

Maintaining the right temperature is very important, as it affects how the eggs hatch and the survival of the baby turtles. The data collected will help the Forest Department improve conservation efforts and ensure better protection for Olive Ridley turtles along the Chennai coast.