Olive Ridley Sea Turtles, Features and Conservation Status

Carcasses of Olive Ridley turtles are washing ashore along the Visakhapatnam coast. Marine pollution and trawling activities during the breeding season are the major causes behind this.

About Olive Ridley Sea Turtles

• They are the 2nd smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles found in the world.
  • Smallest sea turtle in the world: Kemp’s ridley sea turtle.
  • Largest Sea turtle: Leatherback Turtle
• It gets its name from the olive green colouration of its carapace (shell).
• Distribution: Mainly found in warm waters of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans.

Features

• They are known for unique arribadas (synchronised mass nestings), where thousands of females come together on the same beach to lay eggs.
• Females nest every year and produce up to 100 eggs.
• Males and females grow to the same size, but females have a slightly more rounded carapace.
• They are omnivorous, meaning they feed on both plants and animals.

Major Sites in India

• Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary: Located in the Kendrapara district of Odisha, this is the world’s largest nesting site for olive ridley turtles.
• Rushikulya Beach: Located in the Ganjam district of Odisha. The mouth of the Rushikulya River is the 2nd largest nesting site for olive ridley turtles in India.
• Velas Beach, Versova Beach & Tarkli Beach (Maharashtra)

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule 1
• CITES: Appendix I

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