Olive Ridley Sea Turtle
Kartavya Desk Staff
Source: TH
Context: A surge in Olive Ridley Sea turtle deaths has been reported along the Chennai and Chengalpattu coasts of Tamil Nadu, with over 1,200 carcasses found in January 2025.
About Olive Ridley Sea Turtle:
• Scientific Classification: Scientific Name: Lepidochelys olivacea IUCN Status: Vulnerable.
• Scientific Name: Lepidochelys olivacea
• IUCN Status: Vulnerable.
• Physical & Biological Features: Smallest sea turtle species, weighing up to 45 kg, with a heart-shaped olive-green carapace. Omnivorous diet, feeding on crustaceans, algae, mollusks, and jellyfish. Unique arribada (mass nesting) behavior, with thousands nesting simultaneously on select beaches. The mating season of Olive Ridley turtles occurs between November and April, leading to mass nesting (arribada) on select beaches.
• Smallest sea turtle species, weighing up to 45 kg, with a heart-shaped olive-green carapace.
• Omnivorous diet, feeding on crustaceans, algae, mollusks, and jellyfish.
• Unique arribada (mass nesting) behavior, with thousands nesting simultaneously on select beaches.
• The mating season of Olive Ridley turtles occurs between November and April, leading to mass nesting (arribada) on select beaches.
• Habitat & Distribution: Found in tropical waters of the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans. Nesting sites in India include Odisha (Gahirmatha, Devi, Rushikulya), Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
• Found in tropical waters of the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans.
• Nesting sites in India include Odisha (Gahirmatha, Devi, Rushikulya), Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
• Recent Mortality Along Indian Coast: Tamil Nadu (Chennai, Chengalpattu): 1,200+ carcasses found, three times the annual average. Andhra Pradesh (Tirupati, Nellore, Visakhapatnam): Over 2,000 deaths reported in January 2025.
• Tamil Nadu (Chennai, Chengalpattu): 1,200+ carcasses found, three times the annual average.
• Andhra Pradesh (Tirupati, Nellore, Visakhapatnam): Over 2,000 deaths reported in January 2025.
• Reasons for Mass Deaths: Illegal bottom trawling & gill nets: Turtles drown after getting entangled in fishing gear. Lack of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs): Many trawl boats violate marine regulations. Plastic Pollution & Habitat Destruction: Polluted beaches and coastal infrastructure (groynes, seawalls) obstruct nesting. Climate Change & Rough Sea Conditions: Extended monsoons & strong currents disrupt turtle migration patterns. Poaching & Egg Harvesting: Though illegal, turtle eggs are still collected in some regions.
• Illegal bottom trawling & gill nets: Turtles drown after getting entangled in fishing gear.
• Lack of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs): Many trawl boats violate marine regulations.
• Plastic Pollution & Habitat Destruction: Polluted beaches and coastal infrastructure (groynes, seawalls) obstruct nesting.
• Climate Change & Rough Sea Conditions: Extended monsoons & strong currents disrupt turtle migration patterns.
• Poaching & Egg Harvesting: Though illegal, turtle eggs are still collected in some regions.
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