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Hans India
6 days ago
- General
- Hans India
Turtle research centre sought near Rushikulya river mouth
Berhampur: As Rushikulya river mouth in Ganjam district has emerged as a major rookery for Olive Ridley turtles, wildlife lovers and experts have demanded the establishment of a turtle research centre in the area to study the behaviour of the marine animal. The demand in this regard was made at a meeting observing the 'World Turtle Day' on May 23, at Purunabandh, near the river mouth. The meeting was organised by the Khallikote forest range. 'It's high time the government take steps to expedite the proposal for setting up of turtle research centre near the rookery,' said Rabindra Nath Sahu, secretary, Rushikulya Sea Turtle Protection Committee, an organisation working on conservation and protection of the Olive Ridley turtles. The Forest department has identified around 3.5 acres of government land near Purunabandh for the establishment of the proposed centre, sources said. Many speakers at the meeting said due to the active participation of local people in the protection and conservation of the endangered sea turtles, the Rushikulya river mouth has emerged as a major rookery. A record number of around nine lakh Olive Ridley turtles visited the beach for mass nesting in two phases this year. While 6, 98,698 Olive Ridleys had laid eggs on the beach in their first phase of mass nesting from February 16 to 23 in the 5-km stretch from Podampeta to Bateswar, over 2.05 lakh turtles had laid eggs in the same stretch in the second phase of mass nesting from March 22 to 27, said Dibya Shankar Behera, Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF), in-charge in Khallikote range. He said a record number of baby Olive Ridley turtles had also emerged from the pits and moved towards the sea with the help of forest staff and local volunteers. Anil Mohapatra, senior scientist of Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), said Olive Ridley turtles preferred to return to Rushikulya rookery for mass nesting due to its safety and protection. He said around 12,000 female turtles had been tagged by the ZSI and the Forest department in the 2021-23 period at Rushikulya rookery to monitor their movement. 'We have recaptured over 553 of them in the same site so far. This indicates that they preferred to revisit the rookery for mass nesting,' he added. Shankar Naryan Bez, coordinator of district Eco-Club, lauded the community participation in the protection and conservation of Olive Ridley turtles near the Rushikulya river mouth.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
553 tagged turtles returned to Rushikulya in three years: Scientist
1 2 Berhampur: Rushikulya river mouth in Ganjam district is emerging as a major rookery for Olive Ridley turtles due to active participation of local people in the protection and conservation of these endangered sea turtles, said wildlife experts at a meeting organised by Khallikote forest range at Purunabandh to mark World Turtle Day on Friday. Senior scientist at the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) Anil Mohapatra said 553 turtles returned to the rookery for nesting in the last three years, with 365 of them this year. He said around 12,000 female turtles were tagged by the ZSI and forest department during the 2021-23 period at the Rushikulya rookery to monitor their movement. "We recaptured over 553 of them at the same site so far. This indicates that they prefer to visit the rookery for mass nesting. The reason being safety and strict protection measures," he added. Mohapatra said a record number of baby Olive Ridley turtles also emerged from the pits and moved towards the sea with the help of forest staff and local volunteers. Around 9 lakh Olive Ridley turtles visited the beach for mass nesting in two phases this year. While 6,98,698 Olive Ridleys laid eggs on the beach in their first phase of mass nesting from Feb 16 to 23 in the five-km stretch from Podampeta to Bateswar, over 2.05 lakh turtles laid eggs in the same stretch in the second phase of mass nesting from March 22 to 27, said Dibya Shankar Behera, assistant conservator of forest (ACF), in-charge of Khallikote range. "It's high time the govt takes immediate steps to expedite the proposal for setting up a turtle research centre near the rookery," said Rabindra Nath Sahu, secretary of Rushikulya Sea Turtle Protection Committee, an organisation working on the conservation and protection of the Olive Ridleys. The forest department identified around 3.5 acres of govt land near Purunabandh for establishment of the proposed centre, sources said. Shankar Naryan Bez, co-ordinator of the district eco-club, lauded the community participation in the protection and conservation of the Olive Ridley turtles. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Brother's Day wishes , messages and quotes !
The Hindu
21-05-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Kurma mela: The science of the mass nesting of Olive Ridley turtles
The Olive Ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), a vulnerable sea turtle species, made headlines earlier this year: a record-breaking seven lakh turtles had nested at Odisha's Rushikulya beach alone in March. These turtles are renowned for their synchronised mass nesting events called arribada, a Spanish word that means 'arrival'. For many people, the Rushikulya arribada signalled hope — but for conservation biologists, it raised critical questions about the future of these vulnerable animals and whether human interventions, even well-meaning ones, could change the course of nature itself. While some localised populations of Olive Ridley turtles have expanded, the IUCN Red List has estimated that the number of Olive Ridleys worldwide has dropped by 30-50% since 1960. The Olive Ridleys' primary nesting sites are along the Pacific coasts of Mexico and Central America, although Odisha is also a particularly critical location. The State's 480-km-long coastline hosts three major nesting beaches: Gahirmatha, between the Brahmani and Baitarani river mouths; Devi, 100 km south of Gahirmatha; and Rushikulya, 320 km further south. The where of it Research has found that Olive Ridley turtles that hatch at a nesting site are 'imprinted' with a map of the local magnetic field. Decades later they return with remarkable precision to the site by following this map. The phenomenon is called philopatry: a blend of memory, environmental factors, and the earth's geomagnetic cues. Philopatry is reinforced by a multiplier effect: as females with strong philopatric tendencies increase in number, they reinforce site fidelity across generations. There are other ecological factors too. Studies on the Loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) have also revealed that their nesting zones are near free swirls of cold water in the seas — called cold-core eddies — that move nutrients up from the deep sea to the surface, including those rich in chlorophyll. Other factors that affect their choice of nesting sites include salinity, land slope, risk of predation, and rainfall. Nesting sites are considered more suitable if more turtles have nested there before — but as turtle populations swell whereas the size of the most favourable nesting grounds doesn't, beaches often become battlegrounds. A population that arrives after another has already nested at a beach might dig up existing nests — female turtles are guided by olfactory cues and female urine — and break the eggs. This happened earlier this year during the second mass-nesting event at Rushikulya. Eggs that are broken and displaced attract predators. Experts previously believed predators used visual cues to detect turtle nests. More recent research has found that olfactory cues, especially the scent of disturbed soil and broken eggs, are more significant. Thus, a species' most successful survival strategy may also sow the seeds of its decline. In sea turtles, temperature determines the sex of hatchlings. Studies of Loggerhead turtles have found that their populations are more female when they nest on warmer beaches. Researchers are still collecting similar data pertaining to Olive Ridley turtles. With rising temperatures shifting the sex ratio more towards females, the multiplier effect is expected to get reinforced as more females return to mass-nesting beaches in the coming years. How mass nesting begins For their first arribadas, female sea turtles pick their nesting sites without any discernible pattern and use them irregularly. If a female turtle reaches the reproductive stage of its life before it is able to reach the beach where it hatched, it may establish a new nesting site closer to its foraging grounds. Its hatchlings will be imprinted with this location and they will attempt to return to it later. Put another way, for a sea turtle population to thrive, it needs strays and wanderers like these turtles, which establish new places for the arribada. If they had been forced to stick to one site over millions of years, they would likely have become extinct due to overcrowding in the mass nesting beaches. Modern conservation has helped boost turtle populations, especially by artificially incubating eggs and protecting beaches. The question naturally arises: could these measures be too successful? Because if weaker individuals that would have perished in the wild are now able to survive and reproduce, the population's genetic resilience will drop. People, turtles, popularity No conservation story is complete without acknowledging the role of local communities. In Odisha, fisherfolk and villagers are vital allies: they guard nests, curb egg poaching, and guide conservationists. But not all human interactions are benign. Turtle tourism has surged in recent years. The influx of visitors creates opportunities to raise awareness but it also stresses these gentle creatures. Crowds gather to watch nesting turtles at night, using bright lights, clicking selfies, and — in some disturbing cases — scooping sand out of the ground to watch the egg-laying or even sitting on turtles for photographs. Such acts disturb nesting behaviour and may have a lasting impact on the turtles' memory, discouraging them from returning to the site. Scientists are also just beginning to understand the cognitive and emotional inner lives of turtles. It's entirely possible that what we think of as harmlessly marvelling at them could be disrupting the ancient rhythms of these mariners. In other words, it's no longer about numbers or rescue operations. The priority is to ensure the longevity of these nesting beaches and to balance tourism with ethical responsibility. Olive Ridley turtles have endured mass extinctions, shifting continents, and rising seas. Their resilience is remarkable — but not limitless. Regardless of whether turtles continue to return to nesting sites despite these disturbances, humans' ethical responsibility is clear: to safeguard the ecological balance that keeps sea turtles going. Deyatima Ghosh is an assistant professor at the Centre for Urban Ecology, Biodiversity, Evolution and Climate Change, JAIN (Deemed-to-be) University, Bengaluru.
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Time of India
Around the bay in 51 days: Olive Ridley turtle almost completes 1,000-km Bay of Bengal roundtrip, scientists stunned by route
It sounds like the plot of a marine odyssey—an Olive Ridley sea turtle , tagged on the beaches of Odisha , has astonished scientists by pulling off what can only be described as a mini circumnavigation of the Bay of Bengal . In just 51 days, this resilient navigator covered a staggering 1,000 kilometers through the vast expanse of sea, touching the maritime boundaries of Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry, before finally making landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast. What began as a routine tagging exercise by the Odisha Forest Department has transformed into a story of scientific wonder and marine mystery. The Wildlife Institute of India's satellite map lit up recently with the surprise path of one such turtle, proving yet again that these seemingly unassuming creatures hold more secrets than we think. — OrissaPOSTLive (@OrissaPOSTLive) The Turtle Trail: From Odisha to Andhra The turtle in question had been tagged on the famed Gahirmatha beach , nestled in Odisha's Kendrapara district, a sanctuary of global importance for Olive Ridleys. From this nesting paradise, the turtle ventured southward—its journey tracing a semi-circular arc that flirted with the shores of Sri Lanka, brushed past Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, and ended on the Andhra coast. It wasn't just the distance that amazed scientists, but the precision and pace with which this marine pilgrim moved, averaging nearly 20 kilometers a day through choppy currents and unpredictable weather. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Top 25 Most Beautiful Women In The World Articles Vally Undo 'We could hardly believe it at first,' Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Prem Shankar Jha told PTI. 'This kind of extensive travel within such a short span is rare. It redefines our understanding of their migratory behavior.' — supriyasahuias (@supriyasahuias) Not the First, But Still Unbelievable While this turtle's journey is remarkable, it isn't entirely without precedent. A few years ago, another Olive Ridley, tagged in Odisha, shocked researchers by clocking an even longer distance—3,500 kilometers—before arriving on the sands of Maharashtra's Ratnagiri district to nest. You Might Also Like: Olive Ridley turtle lays eggs in Maharashtra after Odisha; experts say feat recorded for first time These aquatic marvels seem to possess a natural GPS that continues to baffle marine scientists. And yet, despite such feats, the Olive Ridley's migratory mysteries remain largely uncharted. Every tagged turtle uncovers new patterns, fueling more questions than answers. iStock A few years ago, another Olive Ridley, tagged in Odisha, shocked researchers by clocking an even longer distance—3,500 kilometers—before arriving on the sands of Maharashtra's Ratnagiri district to nest. The Great Homecoming: An Annual Marine Spectacle Odisha's coastline, especially Gahirmatha, isn't just another beach—it's a global beacon for marine biologists and conservationists. Each year, millions of Olive Ridleys return here as if drawn by ancestral memory. Gahirmatha, along with the river mouths of Rushikulya in Ganjam and Devi in Puri, host one of nature's most moving spectacles: the arribada, or mass nesting. Earlier this year, Rushikulya rookery saw a record-breaking 7 lakh Olive Ridleys laying eggs between February 16 and 25, bouncing back spectacularly after a nesting dry spell in 2023. Such massive gatherings are not just awe-inspiring; they also underline the urgency to protect these endangered creatures. Tagging the Mystery The turtle that completed the 51-day journey is among thousands that are part of India's tagging efforts. Since the first such exercise began in 1999, turtles from Odisha have turned up in distant corners of the Bay of Bengal. Two of those early wanderers were even spotted off the Sri Lankan coast, offering tantalizing evidence of their far-reaching migrations. You Might Also Like: What's the perfect way to spend a Sunday? Cuddle with elephants, suggests Anand Mahindra After a temporary pause, tagging resumed in 2021 under the Zoological Survey of India, and since then over 12,000 turtles have been fitted with satellite trackers at Gahirmatha and Rushikulya. But experts say that number is far too small. For a comprehensive understanding of their breeding biology, foraging grounds, and migratory routes, at least one lakh turtles would need to be tagged. Turtles of Tenacity Olive Ridleys may be the smallest of all sea turtles, but they are by no means the least extraordinary. Their name comes from the olive hue of their heart-shaped shells, and they prefer the warm tropical waters of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. Measuring about two feet and weighing up to 50 kilograms, these turtles are believed to be long-lived, reaching maturity around the age of 14. Their feeding habits are just as varied as their travels—they snack on crabs, jellyfish, starfish, shrimp, and occasionally even algae. They're carnivores with a curious palate, adapting their diets based on what the ocean offers. And, intriguingly, there are documented instances of cannibalism under captive conditions. A Vulnerable Wonder in Peril Despite their resilience, Olive Ridleys face immense threats. Coastal development, fishing nets, and pollution have led to mass mortality events in recent years. They are protected under India's Wildlife Protection Act and are listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Their inclusion in global treaties like CITES underscores their ecological importance and the need for multinational conservation efforts. But it's their unique homing instinct—their biological pull to return to the very beach where they were born—that makes them especially vulnerable. The same navigation skill that allowed one turtle to pull off a near Bay of Bengal roundtrip is also what draws them into danger, time and again.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Satellite-tagged turtle completes 1,000-km journey from Odisha to Andhra coast
1 2 3 4 5 6 Kendrapada: A satellite-tagged Olive Ridley turtle has successfully completed a remarkable 1,000-km journey from Gahirmatha, Odisha to the Andhra Pradesh coast in 51 days, traversing the waters of Sri Lanka, Pondicherry and Tamil Nadu. The turtle was one of two female Olive Ridleys fitted with platform transmitter terminals (PTT) by scientists from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in collaboration with the forest department. The turtles were released on March 17 during the mass-nesting period at Gahirmatha beach. "While one turtle lost its transmitter at sea, the other reached Andhra Pradesh waters on May 8, as confirmed by WII's satellite tracking data," said Prem Shankar Jha, principal chief conservator of forest (PCCF). The transmitter sends location data each time the turtle surfaces, helping researchers map migration routes, foraging areas, and nesting grounds. This tracking success follows another remarkable journey recorded in Jan 2025, when a tagged turtle (no. 03233) travelled around 3,500 km from Gahirmatha to Maharashtra's Guhagar beach. Dr. Basudev Tripathy, wildlife biologist and officer-in-charge at the Zoological Survey of India's western regional centre, Pune, explained that while satellite GPS transmitters cost around Rs 10 lakh each, researchers also use more economical flipper tags costing Rs 100 per unit. "Between 2021 and 2024, we tagged around 12,000 turtles at Rushikulya and Gahirmatha rookeries," he said. The tracking efforts have yielded significant results, with five tagged Odisha turtles being spotted in Sri Lanka in 2022 and two more along the Tamil Nadu coast in 2024. A new proposal to tag 100,000 turtles at Gahirmatha and Rushikulya between 2026 and 2031 is currently awaiting approval from the forest department. This year, Odisha witnessed record-breaking nesting numbers, with over 6 lakh turtles nesting at Gahirmatha marine sanctuary and nearly 9 lakh at Rushikulya beach in two phases.
