In Odisha, mass nesting of rare Olive Ridley turtles has started at the Rushikulya rookery coast in Ganjam district, about 150 km from Bhubaneswar. Thousands of mother turtles are travelling every night up to the sandy beach to lay their eggs. These turtles are laying eggs in a stretch of about four kilometres of beach from Purunabandha to Podampeta of Rushikulya coast. They come out on to the beach in the darkness to dig up holes in sand with their flippers and laying their eggs in them. The turtles cover them up with sand before escaping into the sea. According to Berhampur Divisional Forest office, more than 2.5 lakh eggs have so far been laid, The mass nesting process is expected to continue for around a week. Local villagers are also playing a major role in the protection of these turtles. Rushikulya Sea Turtle Protection Committee (RSTPC) had been formed at Purunabandha village istaking the lead in these efforts. According to experts, environmental factors delayed the mass nesting of Olive Ridleys by around two weeks this year. These eggs incubate and hatch due to heat of sand in 45 days. On an average, about 80 hatchlings come out of each nest. Odisha forest department and volunteers are making all possible efforts to protect the nests and the eggs in them from predators like dogs, foxes, crows and vultures.