Context
Recently, the Odisha government has banned fishing around olive ridley turtles' mass nesting sites.
About
- Scientific name: Lepidochelys olivacea
- Also known as the Pacific ridley sea turtle.
- Location: Found in warm waters of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans.
Conservation Status
- IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
- Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I
- Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora(CITES): Appendix I
Important Habitat
- Rushikulya rookery coast (Odisha)
- Gahirmatha beach (Bhitarkanika National park)
- Mouth of the Debi River
Features
- Smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles found in the world.
- Known for their unique mass nesting called Arribada, where thousands of females come together on the same beach to lay eggs.
- Carnivores and feed mainly on jellyfish, shrimp etc.
