The in situ conservation method has proved to be a boon for Olive Ridley turtles along the Andhra Pradesh coast. Sensing the wind direction and tides, the shelled reptile reaches the coast for its breeding season by the end of winter. The coast, therefore, is one of the areas where the turtles could be sighted in large number. Along the over 970-km coastline of the State, beaches such as Bhavanapadu, Kalingapatnam, Bheemunipatnam, Visakhapatnam, and Machilipatnam to Nellore are known to be safe nesting grounds as the eggs are conserved in rookeries. Marking the World Turtle Day on May 23, it is not an exaggeration to say that the in situ method adopted by the Forest Department has contributed immensely to the conservation of the turtles. The role of local communities, including the Yanadi tribe, in the conservation efforts is laudable, given their direct role in the collection of eggs and ensuring their security until the hatchlings are released into the blue waters. The appearance of the turtles in our coast is a good environmental indicator. Exposure to a temperature of over 34 degree Celsius can be fatal to embryos, says Krishna University biotechnology assistant professor P.V. Brahmachari. The in situ method has yielded tremendous result at Rushikulya in Odisha. As a result, the place has turned into a tourism spot for sighting Olive Ridley turtles. Andhra Pradesh will be on the tourist map if the method is adopted along the coastline, added Mr. Brahmachari. Though fishermen claim that they try to release the turtles trapped in their nets, most of them die. The fishermen too have been enlightened about the conservation of turtles in the State in a bid to make every coast a safe zone for the turtles.
2016, The Hindu