Olive Ridley turtle nesting activity picks up along TN coast after late start caused by rough seas

Chennai: Nesting activity of Olive Ridley turtles is slowly picking up along the coastal delta of Tamil Nadu after a delayed start to the breeding season, forest officials said.

The delay, particularly evident in Mayiladuthurai district, has been attributed to rough sea conditions and waterlogged, compacted beaches that initially prevented turtles from coming ashore.

According to Forest Department data, 48 nestings have been recorded so far in Mayiladuthurai and 24 in neighbouring Nagapattinam, with more than 9,000 eggs secured this season.

While Nagapattinam reported its first nesting as early as December 13, Mayiladuthurai witnessed its first instance only on December 31, 2025, well behind the usual schedule. Officials said persistent rough seas during the early part of the season, coupled with saturated and hardened sand, made nesting difficult for the turtles.

With sea conditions now gradually improving, authorities expect nesting activity to intensify in the coming weeks. February is typically the peak period for Olive Ridley nesting along this stretch of coastline, and officials remain optimistic that favourable tidal and weather conditions will draw more turtles ashore.

So far, Mayiladuthurai has secured 5,750 eggs from 48 nests, while Nagapattinam has collected 3,574 eggs from 24 nests. However, continuous rainfall in recent days has disrupted night patrols and monitoring, preventing any sharp rise in nest counts.

Nagapattinam district currently operates nine hatcheries, five permanent and four temporary, across the Nagapattinam and Vedaranyam forest ranges. Mayiladuthurai has 11 hatcheries in place, including three permanent and eight temporary units in the Sirkazhi and Mayiladuthurai ranges.

Nesting sites are being geo-tagged, and officials have flagged the need for additional shelters and temporary watchers to improve protection in vulnerable coastal areas.

Also read | World Turtle Day: Why the ancient species under threat

Alongside nesting activity, turtle mortality is also being tracked. Nine carcasses have been recorded in Nagapattinam district so far this season, while no turtle deaths have been reported in Mayiladuthurai.

To support safer nesting conditions, the Fisheries and Forest Departments have stepped up awareness campaigns in coastal villages, urging residents and fishing communities to protect nesting sites, reduce disturbances and preserve the fragile coastal ecosystem crucial to the survival of Olive Ridley turtles.

Olive Ridley turtles are known to nest in greater numbers during new moon and full moon phases, when spring tides raise water levels and ease access to nesting beaches. Forest officials anticipate an uptick in nesting over the weekend, coinciding with the new moon.

IANS