Lakhs of Olive Ridley hatchlings head to sea

In a grand culmination of the annual mass nesting of endangered Olive Ridley turtles, lakhs of hatchlings broke out of eggshells to emerge from sandy pits and crawl towards the sea at the idyllic Gahirmatha beach off Bay of Bengal coast in Kendrapara district.

- PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

The natural phenomenon of the birth of the hatchlings sans their mothers left wildlife enthusiasts elated, officials said.

Lakhs of hatchlings have broken out of their eggshells in the past 48 hours and crawled towards the sea, an official said.