Olive Ridley Turtles

Olive Ridley Turtle Latest News

A 16-year-long assessment of trends in turtle populations in India says the numbers of the Olive Ridley species suggest a “steady or growing” population. 

About Olive Ridley Turtle

• They are the smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles found in the world.
• It gets its name from the olive green colouration of its carapace (shell). 
• It is best known for its unique mass nesting, called Arribada, where thousands of females come together on the same beach to lay eggs.

Distribution of Olive Ridley Turtle

• They are mainly found in the warm waters of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans.
• Odisha’s Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary is known as the world’s largest rookery (a colony of breeding animals) of sea turtles.

Features of Olive Ridley Turtle

• They are omnivorous, meaning they feed on both plants and animals.
• They are solitary, preferring the open ocean.
• These turtles spend their entire lives in the ocean, and migrate thousands of kilometers between feeding and mating grounds in the course of a year.

Conservation Status of Olive Ridley Turtle

• IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule 1
• CITES: Appendix I

Olive Ridley Turtle FAQs

Q1: What is the special fact of Olive Ridley’s turtle?

Ans: The olive ridley gets its name from the olive green color of its heart-shaped shell. The species is among the smallest of the world’s sea turtles

Q2: Which national park is famous for olive ridley turtles?

Ans: Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary

Q3: Which river is famous for olive ridley turtles?

Ans: Rushikulya river mouth

Source: TH