Carcasses of Olive Ridley turtles continue to wash ashore along the Visakhapatnam coast.
Environmental experts attribute a majority of these deaths to marine pollution and trawling activities used for catching fish.
About Olive Ridley Turtles
- Overview
- The Olive Ridley Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) is the smallest and most abundant sea turtle species in the world.
- Its name originates from the olive-green coloration of its carapace (shell).
- Unique Behavior
- Known for Arribada, a rare phenomenon where thousands of females gather on the same beach to lay eggs simultaneously.
- Distribution
- Found primarily in the warm waters of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans.
- Odisha’s Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary hosts the world’s largest rookery (breeding colony) of Olive Ridley Turtles.
- Physical Features
- Adult turtles typically measure 62–70 cm in length and weigh around 35–45 kg.
- They have paddle-like flippers, each with one to two visible claws.
- Omnivorous in nature, they feed on both plant and animal matter.
- Behaviour and Habitat
- Solitary creatures that inhabit the open ocean.
- They spend their entire lives in marine waters, migrating thousands of kilometers annually between feeding and mating grounds.
- Conservation Status
- IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
- Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I
- CITES: Appendix I
Threats to Olive Ridley Turtles
- Poaching: Extensively hunted for meat, shell, leather, and eggs.
- Marine Pollution: Plastic debris, fishing nets, and waste degrade habitats.
- Fishing Trawlers: Illegal trawling within marine sanctuaries causes injuries and deaths due to entanglement in nets.
Conservation Initiatives
- Operation Olivia: Annual Indian Coast Guard operation to protect turtles and intercept illegal trawling during nesting season.
- Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs): Mandated use of nets with escape covers to reduce accidental deaths.
- Tagging: Non-corrosive tags help track movements and identify critical habitats.
