In a rare sighting that has thrilled marine conservationists and nature lovers, an olive ridley turtle was spotted on Juhu Beach on Tuesday night. However, due to disturbances from onlookers, the turtle returned to the sea without nesting.

According to Juhu Buzz, an Instagram page covering local events, this could be the first time an olive ridley turtle attempted to lay eggs on Juhu Beach. “This would have been a significant event, but due to a lack of awareness, visitors disturbed the turtle. Some even knocked on its shell. Many people don’t realise that these turtles need space to lay eggs. Greater awareness is crucial to ensuring their safety,” the page stated. The sighting was reported to wildlife conservationists, including the Marine Life of Mumbai group, which extensively documents Mumbai’s coastal biodiversity.