Endangered olive ridleys find a new home for nesting

Despite concerns over erosion in coastal areas due to high tide, this year marked a record mass nesting of endangered Olive Ridley turtles at Rushikulya beach.

About Olive Ridley Turtles:

• They are the smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles found in the world.
• Major nesting sites in India:Rushikulya rookery coast (Odisha), Gahirmatha beach (Bhitarkanika National park) and mouth of the Debi River.
• Scientific name: Lepidochelys olivacea; also known as the Pacific ridley sea turtle.
• Presence:Found in warm waters of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans.
• Conservation Status: 
• IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
• Schedule I of Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
• CITES Appendix I 
• Features:
• Known for their unique mass nesting called Arribada, where thousands of females come together on the same beach to lay eggs. 
• These are carnivores and feed mainly on jellyfish, shrimp
• The eggs hatch in 45 to 60 days, depending on the temperature of the sand and atmosphere during the incubation period.

About Rushikulya rookery:

• The Ruskikulya Rookery is located in Odisha.
• The rookery is situated on the Rushikulya Beach in Ganjam district.
• The coast of Odisha is the largest mass nesting site for these sea turtles. 
• It is at the mouth of river Rushikulya.
• The Rushikulya River is one of the major rivers in the state of Odisha.
• The Rushikulya originates at an elevation of about 1000 metres from Daringbadi hills of the Eastern Ghats range. 
• It meets the Bay of Bengal at Puruna Bandha in Ganjam.
• Its tributaries are the Baghua, the Dhanei, the Badanadi etc.
• It has no delta as such at its mouth.