Assessment of Olive Ridley Turtle Populations in India
The Olive Ridley turtles are prominently seen nesting at the Rushikulya river mouth beach in Ganjam district, Odisha, during their mass nesting season on the Bay of Bengal coast. A significant 16-year study from 2008 to 2024, conducted by the Dakshin Foundation with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, and various State forest departments, suggests a "steady or growing" population of Olive Ridley turtles.
Key Findings
- Population Trends: The study reports a stable or increasing trend in Olive Ridley populations, despite climate change causing higher sand temperatures, which result in more female hatchlings.
- Mass Nesting ('Arribada'): The phenomenon involves tens of thousands of female turtles nesting simultaneously, with significant events at Gahirmatha and Rushikulya in Odisha.
- Other Turtle Species: The study also covers leatherback turtles in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and green turtles in Lakshadweep, noting increased leatherback nesting post-2004 tsunami and changes due to green turtle population growth.
Environmental Impacts and Threats
- Migration Patterns: Telemetry studies reveal extensive migratory patterns, with some turtles reaching regions as far as Madagascar, Mozambique, and Western Australia.
- Ecological Changes: In Lakshadweep, the growing green turtle population is overgrazing seagrass meadows, highlighting ecological impacts.
- Threats: Coastal development, pollution, and climate change remain significant threats, alongside fishing activities overlapping with turtle habitats.
Conservation and Community Involvement
- Community Role: The study emphasizes the importance of local communities as primary stakeholders in turtle conservation.
- Collaborative Efforts: Cooperation among fishers, researchers, and policymakers is crucial for sustainable marine biodiversity conservation and community well-being.
