Pairs of Olive Ridley Sea turtles have been recently spotted in the sea waters off Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary along the Odisha coast, commencing their annual mass nesting. This annual event attracts global attention due to its sheer scale and the endangered status of the marine species involved.
About Olive Ridley Turtles
Olive ridley turtles are the smallest and most abundant sea turtles in the world. They derive their name from their olive-coloured carapace. These carnivorous creatures are unique for their tendency towards mass nesting, known as Arribada, where thousands of females congregate on the same beach to lay eggs.
Habitat and Protection Status
These turtles inhabit the warm waters of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans, with the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary in Odisha being the world’s largest rookery or colony of breeding sea turtles. As per the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, Olive ridley turtles come under Schedule 1, while the IUCN Red List categorises them as ‘Vulnerable’ and CITES includes them in Appendix I.
Threats to Olive Ridley Turtles
The Olive ridley turtles face significant threats including human consumption. They are often poached for their meat, shell, leather, and eggs. Another growing concern is marine pollution and waste, including plastics, fishing nets, discarded nets, polythene and other garbage that not only threaten these turtles but also degrade their habitats. Overexploitation by fishing trawlers also poses a massive threat, often violating the rule of not fishing within 20 kilometers of a marine sanctuary.
Initiatives to Protect Olive Ridley Turtles
Several initiatives have been put in place to protect these turtles. The Indian Coast Guard’s “Operation Olivia”, which started in the early 1980s, protects Olive Ridley turtles as they gather along the Odisha coast for breeding and nesting from November to December. Operation Olivia also intercepts illegal trawling activities. To further reduce accidental killing, the Odisha government has mandated the use of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) in trawls. These are specially designed nets with an exit cover that allows the turtles to escape while retaining the catch. Tagging the turtles with non-corrosive metal tags helps scientists track their movements and identify the areas they frequent, aiding their protection efforts.
UPSC Civil Services Examination Question
In the 2015 UPSC Civil Services Examination, a question was asked about the national aquatic animal of India. The Gangetic dolphin, not the Olive ridley turtle, holds this title. The Gangetic dolphin was officially discovered in 1801 and inhabits parts of the Ganges, Meghna and Brahmaputra rivers in India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh, and the Karnaphuli River in Bangladesh. This species is listed as endangered in the IUCN Red List and is included in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The main factors leading to its population decline include poaching and habitat degradation due to declining flow, heavy siltation, and the construction of barrages that act as physical barriers to their migration.
