Odisha’s Rushikulya rookery coast in Ganjam district has once again become active with Olive Ridleys (Lepidochelys olivacea) are coming out from water for mass nesting.
Each nest, on an average, contains around 100 eggs. Usually these turtles nest in darkness, but there have been instances in the past when they have nested during day time.
This year, rain at the rookery delayed nesting by seven to 10 days. Rain had tightened the sand on the beach and mass nesting process started only when it got dried.
About Olive Ridley
5 of the 7 known species of sea turtles: leatherback turtle Dermochelys coriacea, hawksbill Eretmochelys imbricata, loggerhead Caretta caretta, green turtle Chelonia mydas and olive ridley Lepidochelys olivacea are reported from the Indian waters.
The olive ridley turtles, the smallest of the seven species of sea turtles, are known for their unique behavior of forming enormous nesting aggregations – a phenomenon known as “arribada” (Spanish for arrival).
Along the Orissa coast of India, such unique, enormous nesting aggregations occur at three sites viz., Gahirmatha, Devi and Rushikulya.
Olive Ridley is listed as a vulnerable species in IUCN Red list.
Olive ridleys are found only in warmer waters, including the southern Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans.
References
- The Hindu-Mass nesting of olive ridleys begins at Rushikulya.
- IUCN- Biological and Behavioural Aspects of Olive Ridley Turtles along the Orissa Coast of India .
