Over 3,800 Olive Ridleys let into sea

:Over 3,800 OliveRidleyshatched in three artificial hatcheries run by the Forest Department in Nagapattinam district have been let into the sea during the past few weeks, said district Collector S Pazhanisamy.
This morning, the Collector and District Wildlife Warden C Vidya released over 1,000 young ones from the Samanthapettai hatchery into the sea.
Speaking to reporters, the Collector said that Kodiakarai and Vedaranyam areas in Nagapattinam coast attracted a large number ofOliveRidleysevery year during the nesting season, which begins in December and continues till March.
OliveRidleyshave been classified as an endangered species and the district Wildlife Department has set up three hatcheries at Samanthapettai, Vizhunthamavadi and Kameswaram coastal hamlets to hatch the eggs artificially.

The life span ofRidleysranges from 60 to 300 years, said the Collector.
The Forest Department has set up egg collection centres at six points in Veadaranyam coast, said Wildlife Warden Vidya.
This year a total of 4,000 eggs were collected, and so far 3,800 OliveRidleyshave been let into the sea, she added.