Another olive ridley nesting site soon

Another olive ridley nesting site soon

News:

Odisha forest department proposed new site for Olive Ridley mass nesting on Bahuda river beach in Ganjam district.

Important Facts:

The Bahuda rookery is located around 20 km to the south of Rushikulya rookery coast, a major mass nesting site of Olive Ridleys on the Indian coastline

About Olive Ridley Turtle

• The Olive Ridley sea turtle has been listed on Schedule – I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
• The Olive Ridley turtles are the smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles found in the world, inhabiting warm waters of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans.
• It is closely related to the Kemp’s Ridley, with the primary distinction being that olive Ridleys are found only in warmer waters, including the southern Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Conservation status

• The Olive Ridley is classified as vulnerable according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), and is listed in Appendix I of CITES.
• The Convention on Migratory Species and the Inter-American Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles have also provided Olive Ridleys with protection, leading to increased conservation and management for this marine turtle

Nesting Ritual

• Along with Kemp’s Ridleys, Olive Ridleys are the only sea turtle’s species to exhibit synchronous mass nesting, termed Arribadas. During the Arribadas (Arrival) tens of thousands of female Turtles nest during the same 3-7-day period once a month.
• Along with Kemp’s Ridleys, and, to a lesser extent, flatbacks, olive Ridleys are the only sea turtle species to commonly nest during the day.

Nesting Ground:

• In the Indian Ocean, the majority of Olive Ridleys nest in two or three large groups near Gahirmatha in Odisha. The coast of Odisha in India is the largest mass nesting site for the Olive Ridley, followed by the coasts of Mexico and Costa Rica

Threats to Olive Ridley Turtle

• Olive-Ridleys face serious threats across their migratory route, habitat and nesting beaches, due to human activities such as turtle unfriendly fishing practices, development and exploitation of nesting beaches for ports, and tourist centers.
• However, the most severe threat they face is the accidental killing of adult turtles through entanglement in trawl nets and gill nets due to uncontrolled fishing during their mating season around nesting beaches.

Prevention:

• In 1995, the Wildlife Institute of India initiated a research program on Olive Ridley turtles along Rushikulya rookery.
• As part of this program, youths from the local communities help tag turtles and collect data. Community groups also provide protection to Olive Ridleys during the nesting, and hatching seasons. These groups need training in order to continue a long-term conservation program.
• To reduce accidental killing in India, the Orissa government has made it mandatory for trawls to use Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs), a net specially designed with an exit cover which allows the turtles to escape while retaining the catch.