Olive Ridley Hatchlings

What emotions stir within us as we watch turtle hatchlings take their first confused, uncertain baby steps toward their vast, endless home.

Awe — looking these tiny beings brave the first hurdles of life, mostly failing, yet persistently moving forward.

Vulnerability — so small, so exposed, with no protection, no parental guidance, navigating instinct alone in a world full of threats.

Pride — for the determined few who march forward with all their might, as if they already know what it takes to survive.

A quiet ache — for the weaker ones, whose story ends in the sand, not the sea.

Joy — as the first wave lifts them, sweeping them into the unknown, beginning a story only the ocean will know.

And finally, hope — that the very few who make it through the odds will, decades later, return to this same shore… to carry forward the circle of life.

I had the opportunity of witnessing the release of Olive Ridley turtle hatchlings – tiny lives nurtured and protected by the dedicated volunteers and the forest department. Thanks to their relentless efforts, the once rapidly declining numbers of these critically endangered turtles are slowly getting stabilised.

An ancient species that has existed since the time of dinosaurs, have endured the turning of countless tides. Now one can only hope their tribe continues to survive in a world that’s changing faster than nature can adapt..

P.S : Grateful to Saurabh Dhanorkar Sir for the opportunity to witness this wondrous marvel of nature.