Operation Olivia, Launched Date, Significance, Olive Ridley Turtle

Operation Olivia was introduced by the Indian Coast Guard to protect Olive Ridley turtles at the time of their nesting period which occurred from December to May every year. The operation was conducted on the coast of Odisha, which was the main habitat range of Olive Ridley turtles. The coast guard dedicated 225 ship days and 388 aircraft hours to protect about 3.49 lakh turtles that laid eggs along the Odisha coast.

Also Read: Operation Sindoor

Operation Olivia 

Operation Olivia is an annual conservation initiative aimed at protecting the nesting habitats of the Olive Ridley turtles along the Odisha coast.

• Launched in December 2020, the operation is a joint effort by the Odisha Forest Department and the Indian Coast Guard. Two Coast Guard vessels and several aircraft are deployed to monitor and safeguard key breeding sites such as the Dhamra River mouth and Rushikulya beach.
• To prevent disturbances during the nesting season, fishing activities are prohibited near these critical habitats. The Odisha Government, on November 1, 2020, imposed a ban on sea fishing within 20 km off the coasts of Devi, Dhamra, and Rushikulya rivers. Violations are prosecuted under the Orissa Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1982 and the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
• In addition to enforcement, the Indian Coast Guard also conducts community awareness campaigns to promote local participation in turtle conservation efforts. 

Olive Ridley Turtles  

Olive Ridley Turtles are the smallest and most abundant sea turtles found in the world and get their name from olive green colouration of its carapace. These turtles are known for their unique mass nesting, called Arribada, where thousands of females come together on the same beach to lay eggs. 

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

Also Read: Operation Devi Shakti

Operation Olivia Significance 

The hatching of Olive Ridley turtles is very vulnerable to predators such as feral dogs, pigs, ghost crabs and several other animals living around the nesting beaches. Animals like the jaguar, are strong enough to break open a turtle’s shell. Jaguar attacks keep increasing in some areas due to habitat loss and reduced food availability. Human threats such as illegal poaching for eggs and turtle meat also put the turtle population at risk.

Other major threats to their nesting grounds include:

• Coastal development
• Natural disasters
• Climate change
• Beach erosion 

The IUCN classifies Olive Ridley turtles as vulnerable which has also helped curb the large-scale Several conservation programs have been started to protect and support their population:

• In Mexico, turtle eggs are moved to hatcheries to shield them from predators like dogs, coyotes, or strong tides. The hatchlings are later safely released into the ocean.
• In Chennai, a similar project collected around 10,000 eggs, and successfully released 8,834 hatchlings into the sea.

These efforts aim to ensure the long-term survival of the Olive Ridley turtle.