Assessment of Conservation Measures for Olive Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys Olivacea) Along Rushikulya Rookery, Ganjam Disrict, Odisha, India

Abstract

Every year, between October and April, Gahirmatha beach in Odisha becomes the nesting ground for Olive Ridley Turtles. These beautiful creatures are an endangered species, and this area is the world's largest known rookery of the marine animals. Over 600,000 turtles come here together for nesting, but this area has not always been the safe haven for hatching the situation exists today. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), Olive Ridley Turtles are classed as a "vulnerable" marine species [1]. They derive their name from their heart-shaped, olive green-coloured shells. This mass nesting, popularly known as 'arribada' (a Spanish term used for en masse laying eggs by turtle species) is a yearly phenomenon. More than 4, 00,000 turtles arrive for nesting each year, each laying around 100-150 eggs in pits dug out instantly just before laying. The eggs, after an incubation period of 45-60 days, are hatched out yielding 60,000,000 hatchlings, which find their way to seas again. Only one in a thousand hatchlings survives. They take 25-30 years to reach maturity, and on attaining maturity, which usually takes 25-30 years the females then return to the same beach where they were born to lay their own eggs. The turtles migrate hundreds of kilometres for mating and nesting in this yearly breeding season, and every effort are initiated to ensure the mission successful. The Odisha government imposed a 7-month ban on fishing from November 2017 to protect the turtles following as the Orissa Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1982, and Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Nets are ensconced along the length of the beach to prevent the hatchlings from accidentally heading to the land instead of the sea. The Rushikulya Sea Turtle Protection Committee and The Orissa Marine Resources Conservation Consortium work towards conservation of the Olive Ridley Turtles proactively through formation of monitoring units at nesting sites, conduct regular beach patrols and training of guards and volunteers. They also publish and distribute educational material, conduct field trips and promote exhibitions during beach festivals to sensitize the public on the issue through sculptures and sand art. Many villagers are volunteers who are the go-to persons for fisheries, coast guards, forest departments, biologists, researchers and tourists. and are involved in turtle protection works for decades. They know exactly when the turtles will arrive, the best places to view them, where not to tread to avoid trampling the eggs incubating under the sand and when to expect the hatchlings. May 23, World Turtle Day is celebrated in these villages as 'Turtle ka Birthday,' a reminder of the millions of hatchlings that have made it safely to the water from these shores.

Nesting Biology and Site Selection of Olive Ridley—A Coherence of Nature

“…Research has been carried out on various aspects such as reproductive biology, population biology, migration and evolutionary history [23]. Chattopadhyay et al [24] reported that Odisha coast is significantly "arribada" process for Olive Ridley species till date. According to Adnyana et al [25] reported that the Olive Ridley species nesting in Indonesia Papua and Sunda regions are genetically different and follows different patterns to migrate pathways.…”

New observations of the endangered giant freshwater whipray, Urogymnus polylepis, provide further evidence for its distribution and breeding in the north‐east coast of India

“…Potential breeding grounds could be identified along the north‐east coast of the peninsula with the help of local fishermen communities, which could be declared as protected areas during the breeding season of the species. Such models of conservation have already been implemented and proven credible in Odisha for migratory species like the olive ridley turtle ( Lepidochelys olivacea ) (Chattopadhyay et al ., 2018). The Odisha government has taken the necessary steps to preserve and grow olive ridley turtles during the mass nesting season at Gahirmatha, and banned fishing operations by motorized and mechanised vessels within 5 km of the area with continuous monitoring by the state departments of forest and environment, fisheries and animal resources, marine police, coast guard and port authorities from November to May every year.…”