Recently, the Orissa High Court caught the public eye by stepping in to address the alarming death toll of approximately 800 Olive Ridley sea turtles. The court is blaming the forest and fisheries departments of Odisha for negligence leading to these unfortunate incidents.
Understanding Olive Ridley Turtles
Recognized as the world’s smallest and most abundant sea turtles, Olive Ridley turtles sport a characteristic olive colored carapace that gives them their name. These turtles are carnivorous by nature and inhabit the warm waters of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. Interestingly, the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary in Odisha holds the title for being the largest breeding colony—or rookery—of sea turtles globally.
Protection Status of Olive Ridley Turtles
In terms of conservation, Olive Ridley turtles fall under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. They are also listed as ‘Vulnerable’ on the IUCN Red List, implying their heightened risk of extinction in the wild. Adding to this, they also feature in Appendix I of CITES.
The Phenomenon of Arribada
Olive Ridley turtles are renowned for their distinctive mass nesting habit known as ‘Arribada.’ During this period, thousands of female turtles gather on the same beach to lay their eggs. The egg-laying process spans five to seven days, with each turtle creating a conical nest about one and a half feet deep using their hind flippers.
Threats to Olive Ridley Turtles
Marine pollution poses a significant threat to these turtles. In addition, they face many human-induced risks as well. Extensive poaching for their meat, shell, leather, and eggs threatens their survival. The menace of plastic waste also looms large with an ever-increasing accumulation of plastics, fishing nets, discarded nets, polythene, and other garbage, often dumped by tourists and fishing workers. More so, the overexploitation of marine resources through unregulated fishing trawler activities often infringe upon the established norm of not fishing within 20 kilometers of a marine sanctuary. Autopsies of many dead turtles revealed injury marks suggesting that they might have been trapped under trawls or gill nets.
About Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary
The Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary, located in Odisha, carries the distinction of being the only turtle sanctuary in the state and the largest nesting beach for Olive Ridley Sea Turtles worldwide. In acknowledgment of its ecological significance and as part of the effort to conserve sea turtles, the Odisha government declared Gahirmatha a turtle sanctuary in 1997. Interestingly, the sanctuary forms one of the three parts of the Bhitarkanika National Park alongside the Bhitarkanika National Park area and the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary.
Source: DTE
