RECORD 641,000 OLIVE RIDLEY TURTLES NEST AT RUSHIKULYA, EXPECTED TO REACH 700,000

An Emirati Magazine publication – Released on March 19, 2025 | www.emiratimagazine.com

Over 641,000 Olive Ridley sea turtles have nested at Odisha’s Rushikulya rookery this season, surpassing the 2022-23 record of 637,000. The nesting season, known as arribada, is expected to reach 700,000 turtles by early March, according to Prem Kumar Jha, Odisha’s principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife).

Rushikulya, one of the world’s largest nesting sites alongside Mexico and Costa Rica, has seen turtles lay around 100 eggs each in sand pits, with hatching occurring after 45-55 days. However, mass nesting was absent in certain years due to environmental factors like unseasonal rain and El Niño.

To protect the turtles, authorities fenced a 5-km stretch, enforced a fishing ban within 20 km, and reduced artificial lighting. The Indian Coast Guard’s “Operation Olivia” is also patrolling the area with drones and aircraft. Once the eggs hatch, baby turtles instinctively crawl to the sea, continuing this ancient cycle of life.