The recent period has witnessed the hatching of Olive Ridley turtle eggs that were laid in March. These hatchlings, now numbering in their thousands, have found their way into the Bay of Bengal. The officials have estimated the number of turtles that arrived at the beaches under Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary for nesting in 2019 to be about 4.5 lakh. Current projections are that millions of these baby turtles will gradually make their way into the sea.
About Olive Ridley Turtles
Olive Ridley turtles hold the title as the smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles worldwide. Their natural habitats are the warm waters of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans. These turtles are renowned for their distinctive mass nesting behavior referred to as Arribada. During Arribada, thousands of female turtles congregate on the same beach for laying eggs.
On the IUCN Red List, the species is categorized as Vulnerable. It also features in Appendix 1 in CITES, and Schedule 1 in Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. Despite these protective measures, Olive Ridleys face significant threats throughout their migratory route, habitat, and nesting beaches. These threats include unfriendly turtle fishing practices, exploitation of nesting beaches for ports and tourist centers, and developmental activities.
Bhitarkanika National Park
One of Odisha’s most important biodiversity hubs is the Bhitarkanika National Park. It’s renowned for its mangroves, visiting birds, variety of turtles, estuarine crocodiles, and numerous creeks. The park is represented by three Protected Areas: the Bhitarkanika National Park, the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary.
Located in the estuary of the Brahmani, Baitarani, Dhamra, and Mahanadi river systems, Bhitarkanika is home to about 70% of the country’s estuarine or saltwater crocodiles, whose conservation efforts commenced in 1975.
| Protected Areas | Features |
|---|---|
| Bhitarkanika National Park | Mangroves, migratory birds, turtles |
| Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary | Home to saltwater crocodiles |
| Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary | Sea turtle nesting site |
Rushikulya River
The Rushikulya River rookery coast is located in the Ganjam district of Odisha. As one of the major rivers in the state, it covers the entire catchment area in the districts of Kandhamal and Ganjam.
Devi River
The Devi River is a significant distributary of the Mahanadi. It flows through the Jagatsinghpur and Puri districts in Odisha state in India before emptying into the Bay of Bengal.