How fishermen, forest officials protect lakhs of endangered Olive Ridley Turtles

A little before the sun rises, P Srinivas and a couple of other fishermen set out with a thin stick to scout for Olive Ridley Turtle's eggs in RK Beach. Following small turtle footprints on little sand dunes and sand consistency, the fishermen dig out the eggs of the endangered visitor. The fishermen carry the Olive Ridley Turtle eggs back to a hatchery (nesting area) as if they are their own babies. In an attempt to conserve the Olive Ridley Turtle eggs, Andhra Pradesh Forest Department has set up six hatcheries along the coastline of Visakhapatnam. Each hatchery stations 3-4 fishermen who scour as much as 6-7 km daily for the turtle eggs. The eggs are brought back to the safe spot- hatchery, which is also guarded by the fishermen to ensure no one enters the nesting area. The hatcheries are rectangular-shaped areas covered by tall makeshift sticks that ensure no one enters the area.