Olive Ridley turtles: Endangered lives

The Supreme Court-constituted Central Empowered Committee (CEC) had directed the government to protect turtles with the help of armed forces 10 years ago. But turtle casualties continue. As many as 800 carcasses were counted by forest officials between Gahiramatha and the Devi river mouth in March-April, 2014 Read Story: Olive Ridley turtles give Gahirmatha beach a miss this year

One turtle lays as many as 100 eggs after which it returns to the sea Read Story: Olive Ridley turtles give Gahirmatha beach a miss this year

The beach at Gahirmatha is the most important and biggest nesting ground in the world for the endangered Olive Ridley turtles. The beach is along the Gahirmatha marine sanctuary, ensconced within the Bhitarkanika National Park. It extends from the south of Dhamra in Bhadrak district to 15 km north of Paradip port Read Story: Olive Ridley turtles give Gahirmatha beach a miss this year

The hatchlings emerge from the eggs at night after an incubation period of 50 days Read Story: Olive Ridley turtles give Gahirmatha beach a miss this year

Olive Ridley nesting sites in Odisha (map not to scale) Read Story: Olive Ridley turtles give Gahirmatha beach a miss this year

The Hatchlings follow light reflected off the sea to join their kin Read Story: Olive Ridley turtles give Gahirmatha beach a miss this year

Olive Ridleys mate offshore and nest on the beaches between December and March (Photo: Sumer Verma / Greenpeace) Read Story: Olive Ridley turtles give Gahirmatha beach a miss this year

Turtles trapped in fishnets. Illegal fishing activity is a major threat to the Olive Ridleys. Fishing near Gahiramatha beach is banned from November 1 to May 31, 20 km from the coast in the marine sanctuary Read Story: Olive Ridley turtles give Gahirmatha beach a miss this year

Turtles arrive for mass nesting or arribada. The Olive Ridleys did not arrive for mass nesting in 2014 after giving it a miss last in 2008 when construction of Dhamra port by Tata and L&T less than 15 km away was blamed for the turtles' non-appearance Read Story: Olive Ridley turtles give Gahirmatha beach a miss this year