MORJIM/ALTINHO, July 12 -- AUGUSTO RODRIGUES

Olive Ridley turtle arrivals on North Goa's beaches plummeted by more than 50 per cent during the 2025-2026 nesting season compared to the 2024-2025 season, leaving turtle lovers deeply worried even as forest officials downplayed the decline.

Eighty-three Olive Ridley turtles which are declared an endangered species-walked ashore eight beaches in North Goa and laid 8,991 eggs during the concluded 2025-2026 season in comparison to 175 Olive Ridley turtles that walked ashore 10 beaches in North Goa and laid a total of 18,243 eggs the previous season. The huge decrease in the number of turtles walking ashore to lay eggs is worrying the Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) with many attributing it...