As changes in weather patterns force Olive Ridley turtles to show up on Maharashtra’s coast for nesting a bit late, it’s impacting the survival rate and sex of hatchlings, a recent study has found. For the past few years, the nesting season has shifted from winter to early summer, as per the research funded by the Mangrove and Marine Biodiversity Conservation Foundation of Maharashtra, Mumbai.

The delay in nesting has pushed the incubation period, which is about 50-60 days, running into April and even May.  Virendra Tiwari, additional principal chief conservator of forests and the head of Mangroves Cell, said they have collected temperature data from seven turtle nesting sites along the coast of Maharashtra. “The shift in the nesting season is a matter of concern as 33 degrees Celsius is the threshold temp for the turtle hatchlings and the success ratio decreases after this point. Thus, mitigation measures suggested in this study will be considered and implemented.”