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Nearly 1.65 lakh Olive Ridley oversea turtle hatchlings person been successfully released into the oversea on the Tamil Nadu seashore this nesting season, marking an encouraging twelvemonth for turtle conservation efforts successful the State.
According to information from the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, 1,985 turtle nests person been recorded during the 2026 nesting play truthful far, with astir 2.29 lakh eggs collected and protected. The play besides witnessed a crisp diminution successful turtle mortality. Deaths dropped by astir 50%, from 1,572 turtles past twelvemonth to 784 this year, which officials attributed to extended monitoring and coordination among authorities agencies, volunteers, and coastal communities.
In a societal media post, Supriya Sahu, Environment and Forests Secretary, said Chennai Wildlife Region recorded the highest nesting activity, with 656 nests and 74,143 eggs collected. Cuddalore emerged arsenic a starring conservation district, with 48,617 hatchlings safely returning to the sea. Officials said the nesting play was inactive nether way, with much than 62,000 hatchlings yet to emerge.
The figures proceed the momentum seen during the 2025 nesting season, erstwhile Tamil Nadu recorded 1 of its strongest Olive Ridley conservation years. By the extremity of April 2025, implicit 2.29 lakh hatchlings had already been released crossed the State aft much than 3.19 lakh eggs were collected and protected. Cuddalore had past led the State successful hatchling releases, followed by Mayiladuthurai and Chennai.
The 2025 play had initially raised interest among conservationists aft hundreds of Olive Ridley carcasses washed ashore during January and February. However, officials said coordinated efforts involving the Forest Department, Fisheries Department, Indian Coast Guard, and conservation groups helped amended nesting and hatchling endurance rates aboriginal successful the season. Forest officials person besides been expanding conservation measures, including turtle telemetry studies, continued monitoring done the Turtle Task Force, and improved hatchery information postulation to amended replicate earthy nesting conditions.
The Forest Department credited the Students Sea Turtle Conservation Network, Tree Foundation India, the Coast Guard, Fisheries Department hatchery teams, wood staff, coastal watchers, volunteers and sportfishing communities for their publication to conservation efforts.
