Return of the Olive Ridley: A Nesting Marvel on Odisha's Coast

At least 48 tagged Olive Ridley turtles returned to the Rushikulya river mouth in Odisha to lay eggs during the second phase of their mass nesting. The Zoological Survey of India has been tagging these turtles since 2021 in collaboration with Odisha's forest department to study their movements.

In a remarkable natural event, 48 tagged Olive Ridley turtles have returned to the Rushikulya river mouth in Odisha within the last three days to participate in their second phase of mass nesting, according to officials. This return marks a significant milestone in the collaborative tagging initiative launched by the Zoological Survey of India and the Odisha forest department in 2021.

The second phase of nesting began on Saturday, with 1,30,031 turtles laying eggs over three days, braving inclement weather to nest along a 5-km stretch from Purunabandh to Bateswar. On Monday alone, 41,731 turtles were observed laying eggs in the river mouth, indicating a robust return for the species.

Senior scientist Anil Mohapatra expressed optimism about the increase in identified, tagged turtles by the end of this nesting season. The tagging project, which started in 2021, has recorded around 12,000 turtles tagged in the Rushikulya rookery and Gahirmatha marine sanctuary. Further studies will enhance understanding of their migratory patterns.

(With inputs from agencies.)