TheMaharashtraforest department has documented a green sea turtle nesting site in the state for the first time, a marine biologist said on Sunday. Marine biologist Harshad Karve, who works with theMangrove Foundation, an autonomous body under the state forest department, said 74 hatchlings emerged from a turtle nest in Devbag-Tarkarli in Sindhudurg district on March 5.
On January 11, volunteers spotted a turtle, which was larger than theOlive Ridleyturtles that normally have nesting sites at this beach at Devbag-Tarkarli, he said.
The nesting by a green sea turtle, which are four to six metres long, gives a fillip to sea turtle conservation in these areas as well as the state, he added.