For the first time in the country, the scientists of Bangladesh Marine Research Institute (BORI) have successfully hatched endangered Olive Ridley tortoise hatchlings in situ. These hatchlings have been successfully released into the sea. 46 hatchlings naturally hatched from the Olive Ridley turtles or olive ridley turtles which are world famous for their simultaneous spawning.
On Monday at 5:30 pm, when the baby turtles were released into the sea, the senior secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Engineer Ziaul Hasan, Director General (Additional Secretary) of Bangladesh Ocean Research Institute and marine scientist Syed Mahmud Belal Haider, Chief Scientific Officer Hasibul Islam, Senior Scientific Officer, were present. Zakaria and Tariqul Islam and other scientists, officials and media workers of BORI were present.
Engineer Ziaul Hasan, senior secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology, said that BORI scientists have started research on turtles this year to increase the breeding of turtles in the Bay of Bengal. They are the first in the country to have successfully hatched chicks in the insitu method. Meanwhile, 46 hatchlings hatched in the hatchery on Monday have been released into the sea. And all the babies successfully waded into the sea after being released on the beach. And this scene was an unprecedented and joyful one.
Bangladesh Marine Research Institute Director General (Additional Secretary) and Marine Scientist Syed Mahmud Belal Haider said that a hatchery baby had been experimentally released into the sea the day before and it walked from the beach to the sea water. Besides, two more hatchlings two days ago have been released in the laboratory hatchery located in BORI campus and the hatchlings are healthy and strong.
He said that on March 21, three turtles laid eggs on Sonarpara beach, about 18 kilometers south of Cox's Bazar city. Among them, two turtle eggs were stolen and sold by a group of people. On hearing the news, scientists at BORI arranged for a turtle egg to be stored in the Swasthana system, or where the eggs were laid, which contained 90 eggs. And 49 babies have hatched from these eggs in the last three days. The rest of the hatchlings will be gradually released into the sea after hatching.
Director General of BORI said that there is no project or allocation in BORI for research on turtles. However, in view of the demands of the people of Cox's Bazar, scientists have started research on tortoises. It is hoped that a research project will be undertaken in this regard in the next financial year.