Olive Ridley Sea Turtles: Key Facts & Conservation

Why in news?

• Hundreds of Olive Ridley sea turtle carcasses have been found since the first week of January in the Chennai and Chengalpattu districts.

About Olive Ridley Turtles

• Scientific Name: Lepidochelys olivacea​

• Habitat: Coastal waters, estuaries, and open oceans.
• Distribution: Found in warm waters of the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans; key nesting sites in Odisha (Gahirmatha, Rushikulya) and Andhra Pradesh.
• Appearance: Small-sized turtles (35–50 kg) with an olive-green shell.
• Behavior: Known for Arribada – synchronized mass nesting.
• Diet: Omnivorous – feeds on jellyfish, shrimp, crabs, fish, algae, and seaweed.
• Lifespan: Around 50 years in the wild.
• Breeding Cycle: 100-120 eggs per clutch, 45-50 day incubation period.
• Migration: Highly migratory, traveling thousands of kilometers.

Major Threats

• Bycatch: Accidental entanglement in fishing nets.
• Habitat Loss: Due to coastal development.
• Pollution: Marine debris and oil spills.
• Climate Change: Rising sea levels affect nesting sites.

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I
• CITES: Appendix I (Highest protection under international trade laws).