KOZHIKODE: Kolavippalam, a favourite breeding ground for the endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles, is withering away owing to the increased sand mining and other destructive activities underway at the place. According to environmentalists, these turtles which normally lay eggs from August to March at the sands of Kolavippalam in large numbers have begun to avoid the place. The data available with the Theeram Nature Conservation Society show that there is continuous decline in the number of turtles visiting Kolavippalam during this period for laying eggs.
In the year 2010-11, seven Olive Ridley turtles had laid more than 2,000 eggs in the sands of Kolavippalam, whereas this year only two turtles have come and laid 258 eggs so far. “We have been waiting for the turtles to lay eggs from August itself but to our astonishment turtles have not visited the sands until a week ago. There is a sharp decline in the number of turtles visiting the place,” said Suresh Babu M T, president of the Society.
Though during the early days, turtles laid eggs over the 8 km nesting ground with 1.5 km width from Kottapuzha estuary to Aavikkal, today it has shrunk down further to 1.5 km width.
One of the major reason for shrinking of the nesting ground is the unendurable sand mining taking place in the name of developing a port by the Vadakara Municipality. Out of the eight varieties of sea turtles, Olive Ridley which was the smallest and is listed in the endangered Red List is the only turtle laying eggs at Kolavippalam.
Theeram Society members, who have been engaged in protecting the Olive Ridley turtles by forming temporary hatchery at Kolavippalam for the past two decades, first spotted 134 eggs at Aavikkal on November 4 and later spotted another 134 eggs on the Payyoli beach for the first time this year.
After increased anti-environmental activities being underway at Kolavippalam, the Society is now planning to change the hatchery to other places.
“We don’t know how long will the turtles come here. We have already started hatching the eggs at different places including Kasargod. We will also soon decide on moving the hatchery from Kolavippalam to some other places,” Suresh said.