OLIVE RIDLEY TURTLES (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Env and Eco)

News-CRUX-10     18th January 2024        
QEP Pocket Notes

Context: Wildlife experts expect a higher number of Olive Ridley turtles, an endangered species, to lay eggs this year in the Rushikulya river mouth in Odisha’s Ganjam district.


Olive Ridley Turtles

  • Size and Abundance: The Olive ridley turtles hold the title of being the smallest and most abundant among all sea turtles worldwide.
  • Characterized by:  Olive-colored carapace, are carnivores, deriving their name from this distinctive feature.
  • Arribada Mass Nesting: Renowned for their remarkable behavior, Olive ridley turtles engage in Arribada, a unique mass nesting phenomenon where thousands of females converge on the same beach to lay eggs.
  • Habitat: Warm waters of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans.

oGahirmatha Marine Sanctuary: Odisha's Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary stands out as the world's largest rookery, serving as a crucial breeding ground for these sea turtles.

  • Protection Status

oWildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule 1.

oIUCN Red List: Vulnerable.

oCITES: Appendix I.

QEP Pocket Notes