Chennai’s Marina Beach has recorded the first Olive Ridley turtle eggs of the season, marking the beginning of the annual nesting period. Officials and conservationists have urged the public to keep beaches clean and undisturbed to protect the endangered species
The first batch of turtle eggs being spotted along the shoreline. Pic/X
In a heartening development for wildlife conservation in Chennai, the nesting season for the endangered Olive Ridley turtles has kicked off on Marina Beach, with the first batch of turtle eggs being spotted along the shoreline.
The update was shared on social media by Supriya Sahu, additional chief secretary for environment, climate change and forests in Tamil Nadu Government.
Describing it as an "extraordinary moment" that showcases the miracle of nature, Sahu highlighted the visible tracks left on the sand by the mother turtles as they came ashore to lay their eggs.
Chennai let’s welcome the first set of turtle eggs on the Marina Beach as the nesting season begins. An extraordinary moment reminding us about the miracle of nature. Look at the tracks on the sand marking the nesting by turtles. Lets keep beaches clean and undisturbed
— Supriya Sahu IAS (@supriyasahuias) January 5, 2026
Did you… pic.twitter.com/KDHFnOt5nU
'Keep beaches clean for Olive Ridley turtles'
Appealing for public support, she urged citizens to maintain cleanliness on the beaches and avoid disturbing the area to provide a safe haven for the nesting turtles and their eggs.
She also shared a fascinating insight into the species, pointing out that baby turtles hatched on Chennai's beaches—or any beach worldwide—possess an innate natural compass. Even after years of traversing vast oceans, these turtles return precisely to the same shoreline where they were born to lay their own eggs.
The Olive Ridley is a protected species under Indian wildlife laws, and its annual nesting along the Tamil Nadu coast is meticulously monitored by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department as part of dedicated conservation programmes.
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