Government of Odisha has imposed a seven-month ban on fishing in three river mouths of the state to protect the Olive Ridley turtles, the state’s flagship marine species.
This is going to be a detailed post.
Enjoy reading about the smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles found in the world.
Introducing Olive Ridley Turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) to you all.
Image credits: WWF India
This is going to be a detailed post.
Enjoy reading about the smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles found in the world.
Introducing Olive Ridley Turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) to you all.
Image credits: WWF India
1. Olive Ridley Turtles are the smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles found in the world.
2. They are marine reptiles and come to the surface to breathe. They are pelagic species living near the surface of the ocean.
3. Olive Ridley Turtle gets its name from the olive green color of its heart-shaped shell.
4. They inhabit warm waters of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans. They are found throughout the world.
Image source: NOAA
2. They are marine reptiles and come to the surface to breathe. They are pelagic species living near the surface of the ocean.
3. Olive Ridley Turtle gets its name from the olive green color of its heart-shaped shell.
4. They inhabit warm waters of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans. They are found throughout the world.
Image source: NOAA
5. They are best known for their unique mass nesting called Arribada (meaning "arrival" in Spanish), where thousands of females come together on the same beach to lay eggs. 🐢
It is to be noted that even Kemp's sea turtles are known for this kind of mass nesting.
a. They are remarkable navigators and usually return to a beach in the general area where they hatched. 🫡
b. Although other turtles have been documented nesting in groups, no other turtles (marine or land) have been observed nesting in such mass numbers and synchrony.
It is to be noted that even Kemp's sea turtles are known for this kind of mass nesting.
a. They are remarkable navigators and usually return to a beach in the general area where they hatched. 🫡
b. Although other turtles have been documented nesting in groups, no other turtles (marine or land) have been observed nesting in such mass numbers and synchrony.
c. #DidYouKnow?
Let me share the interesting fact about Olive Ridley Turtle.
Sex of Olive Ridley Turtle hatchlings is determined by the temperature of the sand.
The warmer the nest beach conditions, the more female hatchlings that emerge from the eggs.
Now understand why the Climate Change affects the very existence of many species.
You will have more male Olive Ridley Turtles and there will be disturbance sex-ratio of ORT species.
Let me share the interesting fact about Olive Ridley Turtle.
Sex of Olive Ridley Turtle hatchlings is determined by the temperature of the sand.
The warmer the nest beach conditions, the more female hatchlings that emerge from the eggs.
Now understand why the Climate Change affects the very existence of many species.
You will have more male Olive Ridley Turtles and there will be disturbance sex-ratio of ORT species.
6. It is omnivorous, and it feeds on a wide variety of food items, including algae, lobster, crabs, tunicates, and mollusks.
7. The idyllic Kalam Island off the Odisha Coast serves as the nesting ground of the Olive Ridley Turtles.
a. Note that the Olive Ridley Turtles are not just found in Bay of Bengal region of India but also in Arabian Sea.
8. All five species of sea turtles found in India are included in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
9. More recently, a new mass nesting site has been discovered in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, with more than 5,000 nests reported in a season, according to NOAA Fisheries.
7. The idyllic Kalam Island off the Odisha Coast serves as the nesting ground of the Olive Ridley Turtles.
a. Note that the Olive Ridley Turtles are not just found in Bay of Bengal region of India but also in Arabian Sea.
8. All five species of sea turtles found in India are included in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
9. More recently, a new mass nesting site has been discovered in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, with more than 5,000 nests reported in a season, according to NOAA Fisheries.
10. Mating occurs in the offshore waters of the breeding grounds and females then come ashore to nest, usually several times during a season.
11. They crawl ashore, dig a flask-shaped nest about 1.5 to 2 foot deep, and lay 100 to 150 eggs in each clutch. Hatchlings emerge from their nests together in about seven to 10 weeks.
12. Male olive ridleys can be distinguished from females by their tails, which stick out beyond their carapace.
11. They crawl ashore, dig a flask-shaped nest about 1.5 to 2 foot deep, and lay 100 to 150 eggs in each clutch. Hatchlings emerge from their nests together in about seven to 10 weeks.
12. Male olive ridleys can be distinguished from females by their tails, which stick out beyond their carapace.
Hope you enjoyed knowing about Olive Ridley Turtles and their unique nesting behaviour.
Now let us know about threats that they face.
1. Heavy predation of eggs by dogs and wild animals.
2. Indiscriminate fishing with trawlers and gill nets.
3. Beach soil erosion.
4. Extensively poached for their meat, shell and leather, and their eggs.
5. Dense fishing activity along the coasts of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal, especially ocean-going trawlers, mechanized fishing boats and gill-netters pose a severe threat to turtles.
Now let us know about threats that they face.
1. Heavy predation of eggs by dogs and wild animals.
2. Indiscriminate fishing with trawlers and gill nets.
3. Beach soil erosion.
4. Extensively poached for their meat, shell and leather, and their eggs.
5. Dense fishing activity along the coasts of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal, especially ocean-going trawlers, mechanized fishing boats and gill-netters pose a severe threat to turtles.
Lastly let us read about the conservation efforts by the international organizations, and Government of India and its bodies.
1. It is protected under Schedule I of Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
2. It is listed as VULNERABLE in the IUCN's Red List of Threatened Species.
3. It is also listed in Appendix I of CITES.
4. It is also listed in Appendix I of CMS.
4. Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary (Odisha) is known as the world’s largest rookery of sea turtles.
5. Odisha has also formulated laws for protecting Olive Ridley turtles, and the Orissa Marine Fisheries Act empowers the Coast Guard as one of its enforcement agencies.
Government of Odisha has imposed the ban under this very Act.
6. Odisha government has made it mandatory for trawls to use Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) to reduce accidental killing.
7. Operation Save Kurma: Species specific operation on Turtles by Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB).
8. Operation Kachhapa: Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) and Odisha State Forest Department in 1998.
9. In 2019, first Odisha Turtle Festival was held in Puri to create awareness and promote ideas on conservation of Olive Ridley turtles. It was organized by Cox & Kings Foundation in association with Humane Society International/India and Action for Protection of Wild Animals (APOWA).
10. In 2019, Odisha Forest Dept. had decided to establish a research centre in the Khallikote forest range, which is near the Rushikulya rookery.
1. It is protected under Schedule I of Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
2. It is listed as VULNERABLE in the IUCN's Red List of Threatened Species.
3. It is also listed in Appendix I of CITES.
4. It is also listed in Appendix I of CMS.
4. Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary (Odisha) is known as the world’s largest rookery of sea turtles.
5. Odisha has also formulated laws for protecting Olive Ridley turtles, and the Orissa Marine Fisheries Act empowers the Coast Guard as one of its enforcement agencies.
Government of Odisha has imposed the ban under this very Act.
6. Odisha government has made it mandatory for trawls to use Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) to reduce accidental killing.
7. Operation Save Kurma: Species specific operation on Turtles by Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB).
8. Operation Kachhapa: Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) and Odisha State Forest Department in 1998.
9. In 2019, first Odisha Turtle Festival was held in Puri to create awareness and promote ideas on conservation of Olive Ridley turtles. It was organized by Cox & Kings Foundation in association with Humane Society International/India and Action for Protection of Wild Animals (APOWA).
10. In 2019, Odisha Forest Dept. had decided to establish a research centre in the Khallikote forest range, which is near the Rushikulya rookery.
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