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Species in News: Olive Ridley Turtles
Context: A comprehensive 16-year-long study titled “Monitoring Sea Turtles in India 2008–2024” has revealed that the Olive Ridley turtle population in the Indian Ocean is among the most evolutionarily ancient in the world.
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Conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, and the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), the study was published by the Indian Institute of Science and the Dakshin Foundation of Bengaluru.
Key Scientific Findings
- Ancient Population: Olive Ridley turtles in the Indian Ocean, especially along India’s eastern coast, are among the most evolutionarily ancient populations.
- Genetic Distinction: The Odisha nesting population is genetically distinct from other global populations, including those on the South American coast.
- Colonisation History:
- Indian Ocean turtles likely survived global climate changes 3–4 million years ago.
- Populations in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans probably separated from the Indian Ocean population around 300,000–400,000 years ago.
- Earlier beliefs suggested separation occurred 3 million years ago due to the Isthmus of Panama, but this study challenges that.
About Olive Ridley Turtles
- Scientific Name: Lepidochelys olivacea
- Name Origin: The “Olive Ridley” name comes from the olive green colour of its shell (carapace).
- IUCN Status: Vulnerable (Red List)
- Habitat Type: Mainly pelagic (open ocean) but also found in coastal areas
- Distribution: Tropical zones of Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans
- Notable Behavior: Known for Arribada – mass nesting where thousands of females come ashore to lay eggs.
- Relation: Closely related to Kemp’s ridley turtle.
- Diet: Carnivorous – feeds on jellyfish, shrimp, snails, crabs, molluscs, and fish eggs.
- Migration: Travels thousands of kilometres between feeding and mating grounds annually.
- Major Nesting Sites: Rushikulya and Gahirmatha beaches, Odisha (India’s largest rookery). Followed by Mexico and Costa Rica.
- Human-Related Risks:
- Fishing practices: Accidental killing via trawl and gill nets.
- Habitat loss: Coastal development (e.g. ports, tourist infrastructure).
- Poaching: For meat, shell, leather, and eggs (illegal but still occurs).
- Conservation Efforts:
- In India: WWF-India collaborates with local fishers to protect nesting beaches
- Nesting areas are fenced and patrolled during hatching season
- Promotes use of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) to reduce bycatch
- Studies show TEDs do not significantly reduce fish catch
- Globally: NOAA Fisheries and partners engage in: Monitoring, recovery plans, and research funding, Community outreach for turtle-safe practices.
- CITES Appendix I: International trade of turtles and their products banned
- In India: WWF-India collaborates with local fishers to protect nesting beaches
