The Kolavipalam Beach, popularly referred to as the “Turtle Beach,” is situated 30 kilometers north of Calicut, south of the Murad River. The famed Olive Ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea), who are threatened by sand mining and other activities, are the turtles that frequent the beach rather than just any turtle.
In September, during the turtle season, you can watch turtles visiting the beach in search of suitable locations to lay and hatch their eggs. Since the local youngsters began caring for the threatened turtles in the 1990s, the entire community has become involved in the effort to protect the turtles and demand changes in local industrial operations that have led to extreme land erosion. To lay their eggs, turtles return to the same location, therefore the frequent changes to topography leaves them very confused.
Before the young turtles are released into the ocean, you can observe them at the conservation hatchery.
Through a creative project, Kolavipalam’s nature enthusiasts in Kozhikode, Kerala, are contributing to the preservation of the region’s maritime biodiversity. A ‘turtle beach’ in the region is a new endeavor to the protection of turtles, an endangered species, and has been giving the conservation of turtles much-needed support.
Over time, local residents’ conservation efforts have grown into a widespread movement, and the international society now pays close attention to what the local conservationists are doing. Additionally, it has developed into a key draw for kids from about 250 local schools.
Olive Ridley turtles, one of the smallest marine turtle species, are famous for inhabiting Kolavipalam Beach. The turtles and their breeding operations are visible to visitors during the month of September. The fact that this region offers a secure breeding habitat for turtles is one of its unique features. The turtles travel closer to the coast during the breeding season, which lasts from September to March, to lay their eggs in the wee hours of the morning.
According to recent estimates, 831 Olive Ridley species had hatched in this area at a palm plantation. They were subsequently released into the ocean by a group of environmentalists. Over 1,200 eggs were retrieved by members of the “Theeram Nature Conservation Society” during the nesting season from 11 local turtles.
Residents of the coastal belt and fishermen, who contact with turtles the most, have recently been made aware of the situation by Kolavipalam locals. The estuary’s illegal sand mining practices and the buildup of plastic garbage here pose major hazards to the turtles. In order to maintain the turtles, the Keralan government is also paying closer attention to protecting the local natural breeding habitats.
