News Highlight
Mass mortality of Olive Ridley turtles in the Godavari region of Andhra Pradesh raises concerns.
Key Takeaway
- Hundreds of vulnerable Olive Ridley Turtles have washed ashore along the Godavari region’s shoreline between Kakinada and Antarvedi during the yearly nesting season on the east coast.
Olive Ridley turtles
- About
- They are the world’s smallest and most abundant sea turtles, living in the warm seas of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans.
- Scientific name: Lepidochelys olivacea
- These turtles are well recognised for their remarkable mass nesting behaviour known as Arribada.
- In which thousands of female turtles congregate on the same beach to lay eggs.
- Turtles get their name from their olive-coloured carapace, carnivores that eat jellyfish, shrimp, snails, crabs, molluscs, and other sea creatures.
- Protection Status of Olive Ridley Turtles
- IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
- Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
- CITES Appendix I
- Nesting sites
- Rushikulya rookery coast, Odisha.
- Odisha’s Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary is the world’s largest rookery of sea turtles.
- Gahirmatha beach (Bhitarkanika National park).
- The mouth of the Devi River.
Threats on Olive Ridley Turtles
- Pollution and garbage in the sea.
- Because of their meat, shells, eggs, and leather, these turtles are in high demand.
- Changes to the nesting beaches.
- Fishing with gill nets and establishing fishing bases at nesting and breeding spots.
- Predators such as hyenas and dogs, as well as coastal erosion, destroy eggs and nests.
- Tourists and fishers throw growing plastics and other rubbish.
Mass mortality of Olive Ridleys
- In recent weeks, turtle mortality has been widespread in the nesting grounds between Kakinada and Antarvedi.
- This is primarily due to effluent discharged from aqua ponds along the coast and emissions from pipes at onshore oil drilling sites.
- A complaint was also made with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) over the marine and groundwater pollution in the Konaseema region.
Initiatives to Protect Olive Ridley Turtle
- Operation Olivia
- The Indian Coast Guard is in charge of Operative Olivia.
- It began safeguarding Olive Ridley Turtles that come to the Odisha coast to nest and breed.
- Every year, “Operation Olivia” is carried out from November through December.
- Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs)
- These are 2-D net inserts with large escape openings for turtles.
- To avoid accidental death in India, the Odisha government has made it essential for trawls to utilise TEDs.
- TEDs are nets with an exit cover that allow turtles to escape while keeping the capture.
- Tagging
- The rare Olive Ridley turtles are tagged with non-corrosive metal tags to allow scientists to track their movements.
- As well as learn about the regions they visit to safeguard the species and their ecosystems.
Pic Courtesy: Indian Express
Content Source: The Hindu