Mangaluru, 18 June

Conservation efforts to protect Olive Ridley turtles along the Mangaluru coastline have shown notable improvement this nesting season, with forest officials reporting a 74 per cent hatching success rate -- a significant increase from last year's 50.3 per cent.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Mangaluru Division Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) Anthony S Mariyappa said, 2,490 eggs were recorded across 24 nesting sites this season, resulting in the successful release of 1,842 hatchlings into the Arabian Sea.

Nesting activity was documented across several coastal locations, with eight nests at Sasihithlu, 13 at Idya Beach, and one each at Bengre, Tannir Bhavi, and Panambur. By comparison, the previous season saw 21 nests across beaches such as Sasihithlu, Bengre, Idya, and Chitrapura, yielding just 985 hatchlings from 1,958 eggs.

Mariyappa attributed the improved outcomes to enhanced conservation practices implemented this year.

"Natural hatching is always preferable, but certain challenges -- such as soil quality -- require us to intervene strategically. We've refined our approach based on learnings from last year," he said.

In response to soil compaction problems at some beaches, particularly Bengre and Tannir Bhavi, officials relocated vulnerable nests to more favourable sites. The move contributed significantly to the higher survival rate, added Mariyappa.

Additionally, the department introduced artificial hatcheries for high-risk eggs, deployed monitoring camps along the shore, and conducted awareness campaigns targeting local fishing communities. College students also joined efforts through beach clean-up and restoration drives.

Officials said monitoring will resume in November with the onset of the next nesting cycle.