Olive Ridley Conservation programme restarted after nearly 25 years

May 25, 2014

Screenshot_1 The wildlife flank of the Forest Department has re-started the Olive Ridley conservation after nearly 25 years by setting up a hatchery at Besant Nagar in Chennai. The department set up the hatchery in January 2014 near the broken bridge behind the Theosophical Society premises. Around a dozen people have been employed to guard the hatchery and collect eggs.
The Olive Ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), also known as the Pacific ridley sea turtle, is a medium-sized species of sea turtle found in warm and tropical waters, primarily in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
Olive Ridley Turtles:

Scientific name: Lepidochelys olivacea .
Also known as the Pacific ridley sea turtle.
Found in warm and tropical waters, primarily in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
Global population of annual nesting females of these turtles reduced to 852,550 by 2008.
Considered vulnerable because of their few remaining nesting sites in the world.
Largest breeding ground for these turtles: The Gahirmatha Beach in Kendrapara district of Odisha (India), now a part of the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary.
Bhitarkanika Mangroves designated a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance in 2002.
World’s largest known rookery of Olive Ridley sea turtles.
Two other mass nesting beaches on the mouth of rivers Rushikulya and Devi.