Context: The carcasses of Olive Ridley turtles have washed ashore along the Visakhapatnam coast in Andhra Pradesh. As per the environmental experts, the majority of the deaths are due to marine pollution and trawling activities for catching.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Olive Ridley Turtles; Location- Gahirmatha, Rushikulya river
About Olive Ridley Turtles
- Physical features:
- The olive ridley sea turtle is one of the smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles found in the world.
- They get their name from their olive coloured carapace (shell), which is heart shaped.
- Habitat: They are found in warm and tropical waters, primarily in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. They are also found in the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
- Mass Nesting:
- They are best known for their unique synchronised mass nestings called arribadas, where thousands of females come together on the same beach to lay eggs.
- The turtle eggs normally take 45 days to hatch. Following it, the tiny hatchlings make their way to the sea.
- The coast of Orissa in India is the largest mass nesting site for the turtles, namely, Gahirmatha beach, Rushikulya river etc.
Need for Protection:
- Olive ridley sea turtles are considered the most abundant, yet globally they have declined by more than 30% from historic levels.
- Threats:
- Poached for their meats, shells and leather.
- Their nesting sites (on the beaches) are vulnerable to destruction due to marine pollution, over-tourism, mechanised boats, coastal erosion, natural disasters and climate change.
Protection Status:
- IUCN Status: Vulnerable
- CITES: Appendix I
- Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I