Olive Ridley Turtle and Other sea turtles

Source- This post on Olive Ridley Turtle and other sea turtles has been created based on the article “Andhra Pradesh government bans fishing within 5 km radius of Hope Island to check death of Olive Ridley turtles” published in “The Hindu” on 13 February 2024.

Why in the news?

The Andhra Pradesh government has recently imposed a month-long ban on fishing to prevent death of Olive Ridley turtles off Kakinada coast.

About the Olive Ridley Turtle

1. The Olive ridley turtles are the smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles found in the world.
2. They are best known for their unique mass nesting called Arribada, where thousands of females come together on the same beach to lay eggs.
Habitat- They are found in warm waters of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans.
IUCN status- Vulnerable
Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act- Schedule I

About other sea turtles in India

1) Leatherback turtle:- It is the largest of the seven sea turtle species.
Habitat- It is found in all oceans except the Arctic and the Antarctic.
IUCN Status- Vulnerable
Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act- Schedule I.

2) Loggerhead turtle-
Habitat- It is found in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, as well as the Mediterranean Sea.
IUCN Status- Vulnerable
Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act- Schedule I.

3) Hawksbill turtle-They have a wide range, found predominantly in tropical reefs of the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic Oceans.
Habitat- They are primarily found in tropical coral reefs.
IUCN status- Critically Endangered
Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act- Schedule I

4) Green turtle– It is the only herbivore among the different species of sea turtles.
Habitat- They are found mainly in tropical and subtropical waters.
IUCN status- Endangered
Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act- Schedule I

UPSC Syllabus-Environment (Species in news)