Context

At least 1 crore baby Olive Ridley turtles hatched on Odisha coast in last few days. It is expected that around 2 crore more baby turtles will hatch on Odisha coast before the culmination of this year’s breeding season.

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 watersof 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.

Breeding Season

• Lakhs of Olive Ridley sea turtles usually congregate in the coastal sea of Odisha for breeding purposes every year.
• It is believed that around 50 per cent of the Olive Ridley turtles in the world visit Odisha coast to lay eggs.
• The breeding season of Olive Ridley turtles begins in November every year and concludes in May.
• The turtles usually lay eggs on Odisha coast in between November and second week of March. The baby turtles hatch in the months of April and May.