A proposal has been made to establish a permanent research center for Olive Ridley Turtle on the Odisha coast. Discuss the threats to the species in India and ways to conserve.
The Olive Ridley sea turtle are the second smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles found in the world. This species of sea turtle is found in warm and tropical waters, primarily in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
Features of Olive Ridley Turtle:
- These turtles are best known for their unique mass nesting called arribada where thousands of females come together on the same beach to lay eggs
- It gets its name from its olive coloured carapace, which is heart-shaped and rounded
- The species is listed as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List, Appendix 1 in CITES, and Schedule 1 in Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
- In India, it is protected under Wildlife Protection Act
Threats
- Poaching for their meat, shell and leather, and their eggs
- Pet trading
- Accidental killing of adult turtles through entanglement in trawl nets
- Development and exploitation of nesting beaches for ports, and tourist centres
- Predators like feral dogs and pigs,�ghost crabs, snakes etc
- Light pollution
- Ingestion of marine debris that causes perforation of the digestive system
Conservation: Conservation of Olive Ridley turtles is done in the�Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary (KWS), Andhra Pradesh. Members of the�Yanadi tribe�are directly involved in the conservation bid.
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