Vikramadiitya
Port Blair, Sept 14 : The Police team of Shaheed Dweep while patrolling at Laxmanpur beach (sunset point) of Shaheed Dweep observed hatchlings of turtles gathered around the beach. Due to low tide they could not move towards the shoreline. It is believed that those were hatchlings of Olive Ridley Sea Turtle.
The matter was immediately informed to Forest Division of Shaheed Dweep, after which nearly 50 hatchlings were rescued by the Police and Forest Department team along with the help of some civilians namely Mr. Pritam Biswas, Mr. Satyabhan Sarkar, Mr. Ranjit and others. The turtle hatchlings were soon released into the sea.
Olive Ridley Turtle nesting at Laxmanpur beach of Shaheed Dweep is not common. Cuthbert Bay Wildlife Sanctuary of Middle Andaman Island is however famous for turtle nesting of Olive Ridley Turtles.
The Olive Ridley sea turtle has been listed on Schedule – I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (amended 1991). The species is listed as vulnerable under IUCN.
