On the second mass nesting of the Olive Ridley Lepidochelys olivacea at Gahirmatha, Orissa during 1984

Observations carried out on the second mass nesting of the Olive Ridley along the Gahirmatha beach towards the end of March 1984 are recorded here. The mass nesting occurred in general along the same stretch where the first mass nesting had earlier taken place from 2Sth January to 6th February 1984, with a peak activity along about one kilometre of the stretch of the beach. Maximum destruction to earlier nests and emerging hatchlings was noted in this area of overlap. Some observations made during this phase on emerging hatchlings of the first mass nesting are also reported here