What is Turtle Nesting?
The Andaman Islands serve as a vital refuge for the survival of these species since turtle nesting is a major component of their natural life cycles. Female turtles use their intrinsic navigational abilities to navigate back across enormous oceans and lay their eggs on the same beach where they were born. They use their flippers to excavate nests in the sand after they get to the coast, where they place a clutch of eggs before carefully covering them to keep predators away. Little hatchlings emerge from the nests about two months later, and instinctively they move towards the ocean, following the moonlight's reflection on the water.
What Kind of Turtles?
Olive Ridley Turtle: The most prevalent kind of turtle observed nesting on Andaman beaches is the Olive Ridley Turtle. They are well-known for their "arribadas", or synchronised nesting behaviour, in which a large number of females arrive at the coast at once to lay their eggs. Olive Ridleys normally lay their eggs from December through March, with January and February being the busiest months for this activity.
Leatherback: The Leatherback turtle is the largest sea turtle and is distinguished by its distinctive soft, leathery shell. Between January and April, the leatherback turtles in Andaman lay their eggs on the various beaches around Neil Island and Rangat Island. The Leatherback turtle is a rare and prized sight for those fortunate enough to observe its nesting activity, despite having fewer nests than other species.
Hawksbill: Hawksbill turtles are renowned for their exquisite shell patterns but are at grave risk of extinction. In the Andaman, the nesting season for hawksbill sea turtle lasts from January to April. These turtles are frequently seen at the hawksbill nest Rangat, one of the islands in the middle of Andaman. They prefer to nest in rocky locations.
Green Turtle: Known for their migratory patterns, green turtles are a common sight in the waters around Andaman Islands. Normally, their nesting season lasts from December to March. These critters frequently nest on the beaches of South Andaman, especially Neil Island.
Green Turtle: Known for their migratory patterns, green turtles are a common sight in the waters around Andaman Islands. Normally, their nesting season lasts from December to March. These critters frequently nest on the beaches of South Andaman, especially Neil Island.
Neil Island
The tranquil and lovely Neil Island serves as an essential turtle nesting spot in Andaman. The beaches of Neil Island are home to the amazing phenomenon of turtles returning to lay their eggs during the nesting season from the months of December to March. The two most prevalent species in this area are Olive Ridley and Green turtles. Visitors can watch these breathtaking turtle nesting in Andaman while also helping to preserve these endangered species and their nesting grounds thanks to local authorities and conservation activities that secure the protection of these nesting locations.