Olive Ridley turtles are expected to return in large numbers to the Rushikulya River mouth in Odisha for their mass nesting, a vital occurrence for the conservation of this species.
Key Facts About Olive Ridley Turtles
- Scientific Name: Lepidochelys olivacea
- Class: Reptilia
- Family: Cheloniidae
- Appearance: Olive ridley turtles are an olive or grayish-green with a heart-shaped carapace (top shell). They closely resemble Kemp’s ridleys (primarily found in the Gulf of Mexico) and are the smallest sea turtles. Their size and shape vary by region, with the largest found in West Africa.
- Habitat and Distribution: Found in the tropical regions of the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans. Inhabits both pelagic (open ocean) and coastal waters.
- Major nesting sites in India: Rushikulya, Gahirmatha, Devi River mouth in Odisha, and the Andaman Islands. Gahirmatha marine sanctuary is recognised as the largest known mass nesting rookery for Olive Ridley sea turtles in the world.
- Reproduction: Olive ridley turtles are famous for arribada (Spanish for “arrival”), a unique mass nesting behavior where thousands of females nest simultaneously.
- From September, they travel 9,000 km from the Pacific to the Indian seas. After mating, males retreat, and females nest from December to March. Females nest 1-3 times per season, laying around 100 eggs per clutch. The sex of hatchlings is determined by nest temperature.
- Diet and Behavior: Like all sea turtle species, except the herbivorous Green Turtle, the Olive Ridley is an omnivore, eating jellyfish, snails, crabs, prawns, algae, and small fish. Migrate long distances between feeding and nesting sites.
Protection Status
- Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule 1
- IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
- CITES: Appendix I
- Threats: Bycatch in fishing gear (trawls, gillnets, longlines). Poaching and egg harvesting for human consumption. Habitat loss from coastal development, plastic ingestion, and marine pollution, along with rising temperatures and sea levels, threaten olive ridley turtles by disrupting nesting sites and food sources.
Conservation Initiatives
- Operation Olivia: Indian Coast Guard initiative (since the 1980s) to protect nesting turtles and prevent illegal trawling.
- Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs): Odisha mandates TEDs in trawls(cone-shaped net) to prevent accidental deaths.
- Tagging: Olive Ridley turtles are tagged with non-corrosive metal tags to track their movements and safeguard their habitats.