Arribada

Arribada is a phenomenon which lots of Olive Ridley turtles come up to the same beach and nest at the same time !!! How cool is that !! It is called as mass nesting as well, and the numbers of turtles that come up for nesting can reach few thousands of them and this phenomenon might last for weeks as well. And this is only happened in few places in the world. It happened before in Mexico, India and also Sri Lanka etc. Even scientists still couldnt find the answer for this question ??!!! Got an article to share with you all. This happened in India, at a place called Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary. Enjoy the news !!

Kendrapara (Orissa), March 25: Allaying fears of environmental groups, endangered Olive Ridley Turtles have commenced their annual rendezvous with Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary as thousands of female turtles invaded the nesting beach for laying eggs. After playing truant last year, the turtles have finally laid eggs on Gahirmatha beach for mass nesting much to the relief of conservationists and forest personnel. The district administration has decided not to press the forest officials and guards engaged in turtle protection work, into poll related duty.

"In view of the department's pressing preoccupation with Olive Ridleys' protection, we have left out a section of the forest department employees from poll duty," Kendrapara District Collector Sisirkanta Panda said. About two lakh female turtles were engrossed in en mass laying of eggs since Saturday night on the sandy beaches of Nasi-2 island off Gahirmatha coast. The arribada would gradually increase, wildlife personnel at Bhitarkanika National Park said. "It's a virtual treat to watch these species make their nocturnal visits. Emerging from seawaters, they head towards the sandy beaches generating some kind of noise," narrated an official on turtle protection duty. Another official claimed that the number of turtles for nesting might go up to four lakh in a week.

The turtles loitered around the serene beach for quite a while before locating their preferred places to lay eggs. Digging out pits, they laid eggs. They stayed over an hour at the nesting ground before commencing their seaward journey. About 50 forest personnel are deployed on the beach to keep vigil and to ensure the safe and undisturbed mass nesting of the turtle species. The presence of humans on the nesting ground did not bother the turtles. They moved past the forest guards at handshaking distance. The tranquil beach has come alive with these nocturnal visitors, officials said. Round-the-clock vigil is on to ensure the safe aribada and to keep predators like wild dogs at bay, they said.

An Olive Ridley usually lays about 120 to 150 eggs from which hatchlings emerge after about 45 to 50 days. But not all eggs remain intact as predators devour it. Besides, eggs are also washed away by sea waves during high tide. The eggs are incubated in the nest and grow, sans mother, to emerge as hatchlings.