Turtle walk

Turtle walk at Chennai stimulated many thoughts in me about conservation, interaction with animals and the life! There was something special about the volunteers I met at the beach – one of them doing for last 22 years and still doing every weekends for five months. He was as inspiration for me to walk the whole night and finally witnessing that hatchling walking towards the sea into unknown.

Here is what we could not witness but I imagined at the beach – I wish safe journey for the hatchling we released in the sea.

Olive Ridley turtles nest on beaches of Chennai at night, between January and April every year. During this season volunteers patrol the beaches every night looking for their eggs which are collected and relocated to a safe place. When the turtle hatchlings emerge 45 days later, they are released safely into the sea.

This was also an opportunity to interact with them, and get awareness about the plight of an endangered species and the state of the environment. Main agenda for the night was to walk 7km on the beach (Neelangarai Beach to Besant Nagar beach) looking for turtle eggs and watch out for nesting turtles. More details https://sstcn.org/