The Samikhsya Bureau
BHUBANESWAR: A sea turtle research centre of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) was inaugurated at Gopalpur-on-Sea on Friday.
The centre will study the endangered Olive Ridley turtles that annually lay millions of eggs along the state’s coast.
It was inaugurated by ZSI Director Kailash Chandra.
The first-of-its-kind research centre will study all aspects of marine turtles, especially the Olive Ridley turtles.
The ZSI, along with the state Forest and Environment Department, had launched a drive on January 12 to tag Olive Ridley turtles to track their migration patterns.
The drive was launched at the Rushikulya river mouth, one of the three major nesting sites in the state.
The exercise to tag Olive Ridley turtles is being undertaken after a gap of 25 years.
Around 8,000 turtles were tagged during the previous drive conducted in 1994-95.
During the present drive, around 30,000 turtles are expected to be tagged in three years.
The Centre has provided Rs 40 lakh for the project and the state government has extended allied support.
