Olive Ridley Turtle’s 1,000 km Journey Highlights Marine Conservation Efforts
An Olive Ridley sea turtle, tagged with a satellite-linked tracking device at Odisha’s Gahirmatha beach, has completed a remarkable 1,000-kilometer journey to the Andhra Pradesh coast in just 51 days. The turtle navigated through the waters of Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry before reaching its destination.
This journey provides valuable insights into the migratory patterns of Olive Ridley turtles, emphasizing the importance of marine conservation efforts. The tagging initiative, resumed in 2021, has seen approximately 12,000 turtles tagged between 2021 and 2024. However, experts suggest that tagging at least 100,000 turtles is necessary to gain comprehensive data on their reproductive biology, migratory routes, and foraging areas.
Odisha’s Gahirmatha beach is renowned as the world’s largest nesting ground for Olive Ridley turtles, with millions arriving annually for mass nesting events. The recent journey of this tagged turtle underscores the resilience and navigational prowess of the species, while also highlighting the need for continued research and conservation initiatives to protect these marine creatures.
