Olive Ridley Turtles
Content
- Latest News
- Olive Ridley Turtles
- Habitat and Distribution
- Biological Features and Behaviour
- Ecological Importance
- Threats to Survival
- Conservation Status
- Conservation Efforts
Latest News
In December 2025, the Odisha Forest Department, in partnership with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), fitted satellite transmitters on several Olive Ridley turtles at the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary. This initiative aims to track long-distance movements and better understand migratory and nesting behaviours, valuable for long-term conservation planning.
Olive Ridley Turtles
The Olive Ridley Turtle is one of the smallest and most widely distributed marine turtles in the world. Scientifically known as Lepidochelys olivacea, it belongs to the family Cheloniidae. The species is easily recognised by its olive-green, heart-shaped carapace. India is home to some of the world’s most important nesting beaches for this species, particularly along the Odisha coast, making it a recurring topic in UPSC Environment and Current Affairs.
Habitat and Distribution
- Olive Ridley turtles are found in the warm tropical and subtropical waters of the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
- They are primarily pelagic in nature, spending most of their lives in the open ocean, but migrate to coastal areas for breeding and nesting.
- Sandy beaches with gentle slopes are preferred for egg-laying.
- In India, the Odisha coast is globally famous for mass nesting events known as Arribada. Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary, Rushikulya river mouth and the Devi river mouth are the major rookeries.
- Nesting has also been reported along the coasts of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, though in smaller numbers.
Biological Features and Behaviour
- The sex of hatchlings depends on the temperature of the sand, warmer temperatures produce more females, while cooler sands produce males.
- The Olive Ridley is the smallest among the sea turtles, generally measuring about 60-70 cm in length and weighing around 35-50 kg.
- Its shell has 5 to 9 pairs of scutes, and the colour varies from olive to greyish-green.
- The species is omnivorous and feeds on jellyfish, crustaceans, molluscs, small fish and algae.
- One of its most unique behaviours is synchronized mass nesting, or Arribada, during which thousands of female turtles come ashore simultaneously to lay eggs. Each female lays around 80-120 eggs in a single nest.
- Like other sea turtles, Olive Ridleys show natal homing behaviour, meaning they return to the same beaches where they were born to lay eggs.
Ecological Importance
Olive Ridley turtles play an important role in maintaining marine ecosystem balance. By feeding on jellyfish and other invertebrates, they help regulate marine food chains.
They also act as indicator species, reflecting the overall health of coastal and ocean ecosystems. A decline in their population often signals broader environmental stress such as pollution, overfishing or habitat degradation.
Threats to Survival
Despite legal protection, Olive Ridley turtles face several serious threats. The biggest danger comes from accidental capture in fishing nets, especially trawlers and gillnets. Many turtles drown because they cannot surface for air once trapped.
Coastal development has destroyed or disturbed nesting beaches through artificial lighting, tourism infrastructure and erosion. Marine pollution, particularly plastic waste, leads to ingestion and internal injuries. Illegal poaching of eggs and adult turtles, though reduced, still occurs in some areas.
Climate change has emerged as a long-term threat. Rising sea levels, stronger cyclones and increasing sand temperatures affect nesting success and can distort natural sex ratios, creating more females than males.
Conservation Status
- According to the IUCN Red List, the Olive Ridley Turtle is classified as Vulnerable, meaning it faces a high risk of extinction in the wild.
- Under the CITES convention, it is listed in Appendix I, which bans international commercial trade.
- In India, the species receives the highest level of legal protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Conservation Efforts in India
- India has taken several measures to protect Olive Ridley turtles. The Indian Coast Guard runs Operation Olivia, a special coastal patrol programme to protect nesting turtles and prevent illegal fishing during the breeding season, especially along the Odisha coast.
- The use of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) in fishing nets has been promoted to allow trapped turtles to escape. Many states also conduct beach patrolling, nest relocation, and hatchery programmes with the help of local communities and forest departments.
- Scientific initiatives such as satellite tagging and flipper tagging are used to study migration routes, feeding grounds and habitat use, helping policymakers design better conservation strategies.
Way Forward
Long-term conservation of Olive Ridley turtles requires strict enforcement of fishing laws, protection of nesting beaches from coastal construction, reduction of marine pollution, and climate-resilient coastal planning. Community participation, especially of fishermen and local volunteers, is crucial for effective beach monitoring and nest protection.
Scientific research must continue to guide policy decisions, while awareness programmes should promote coexistence between marine livelihoods and biodiversity conservation.
