Record Olive Ridley Turtle Hatching at India’s Rushikulya Beach

The Rushikulya beach in India’s Odisha state has recently become a point of interest after having witnessed the highest-ever congregation of Olive Ridley sea turtles in the last few decades. This event saw millions of baby turtles beginning their journey towards the Bay of Bengal using expansive seawater routes.

This is particularly noteworthy as the Rushikulya beach is not classified as a wildlife sanctuary. Despite this, the turtles still find it safe enough to perform mass nesting. The successful hatching of multiple eggs is indicative of a thriving marine ecosystem which provides a suitable environment for such breeding activities. Furthermore, it signifies a promising prospect for Olive Ridley turtle conservation.

A Closer Look at Olive Ridley Turtles

Olive Ridley sea turtles are the smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles worldwide. Named for their distinctive olive-colored shells, these carnivorous creatures are renowned for their unique mass nesting process known as “Arribada”, whereby thousands of females gather on the same beach to lay their eggs.

These turtles inhabit the warm waters of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans. Specifically, way off the coast of Odisha is the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary, regarded as the largest rookery, or breeding colony, of sea turtles globally.

Legislations such as the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 have classified them as Schedule 1 species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List has also labeled them as Vulnerable while the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) has placed them in Appendix I.

Protecting the Olive Ridley Turtles

Various initiatives are in place to ensure the protection of Olive Ridley turtles. Operation Olivia, carried out annually by the Indian Coast Guard since the 1980s, intercepts illegal trawling activities and safeguards the turtles during their breeding and nesting period along the Odisha coast.

In addition, the Odisha government requires trawls to use Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs), designed to let the turtles escape while retaining the catch, thus minimizing accidental deaths. Tagging these endangered species with non-corrosive metal aids scientists in tracing their movements and protecting their habitats.

The field of tortoise and freshwater turtle conservation annually awards the Behler Turtle Conservation Award for outstanding contributions. It is regarded as the “Nobel prize” of turtle conservation.

Challenges Threatening Olive Ridley Turtles

Despite these efforts, Olive Ridley turtles face several threats. Human activities such as coastal development, pollution, and fishing pose significant risks, along with the destruction of their nesting habitats and accidental capture in fishing nets. Other dangers include natural predators like dogs, hyenas, and birds of prey that often feed on the eggs or hatchlings.

Climate change also poses a threat, as rising temperatures and sea levels adversely affect these creatures’ nesting habitats. Light pollution from nearby towns and industries confuse hatchlings, leading them away from the sea and into nearby villages instead.

UPSC Civil Services Examination Question

A question in the 2015 UPSC Civil Services Examination asked: “Which one of the following is the national aquatic animal of India?” with the options being: (a) Saltwater crocodile (b) Olive ridley turtle (c) Gangetic dolphin (d) Gharial. The correct answer was (c) Gangetic dolphin.