Olive Ridley Turtles in India:
Nearly 20,000 Olive Ridley turtle eggs have been conserved at Hope Island (Kakinada Bay, Andhra Pradesh) through in-situ protection by wildlife authorities.
About Olive Ridley Turtles (ORTs):
- Smallest sea turtles with olive-green heart-shaped shell
- Found in Indian, Pacific & Atlantic Oceans
- Famous for mass nesting (arribada) → 100–140 eggs per female
Key Nesting Sites in India:
- Gahirmatha (largest rookery), Rushikulya, Devi River mouth (Odisha)
- Andhra coast (Visakhapatnam, Kakinada) & Andaman & Nicobar
Behavior & Ecology:
- Long-distance migration → reach Indian coast (Nov–May)
- Omnivorous → jellyfish, crabs, algae
- Nest near estuaries & sandy beaches
Legal Status:
- Schedule I, Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
- Appendix I of CITES
- IUCN Status: Vulnerable
Conservation Measures:
- Operation Olivia by Indian Coast Guard
- Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) in fishing nets
- Tagging & tracking programs
- In-situ egg protection (like Hope Island initiative)
Major Threats:
- Bycatch in trawl/gill nets (major cause of mortality)
- Illegal poaching & egg trade
- Habitat degradation & coastal pollution
