Olive Ridley turtle hatchlings have been crossing the Rushikulya Beach in India during the daytime - something only made possible as the beach has been abandoned due to the coronavirus pandemic.
David Doyle reports.
In the morning light on India's eastern coast millions of endangered baby turtles are making there way to sea.
That this can be seen in the daytime in something made possible by lockdown measures, which have left this stretch of coast in Odisha state largely deserted.
Rushikulya beach is one of the few places in the world where the Olive Ridley Turtles come to lay eggs during late winter and the beginning of spring each year.
The mothers come during night time and bury the eggs in sand nests.
After around 45 days, the hatchlings emerge and return to the sea.
This year a lack of footfall at beaches and boat movements in the sea means the phenomenon can be witnessed during day time - the latest example of wildlife reclaiming territory or flourishing seen worldwide over the past few weeks.
Thousands of baby olive ridley sea turtles are trapped in abandoned fishing nets overwhelming efforts of rescuers to save them on..
