Tagged Olive Ridley Turtles Reach Sri Lanka from Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Two Olive Ridley sea turtles, tagged with satellite transmitters at Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary in Odisha’s Kendrapara district, have journeyed nearly 1,000 kilometers to reach the waters north of Sri Lanka within a month of nesting.

The female turtles were tagged on March 12 during the peak of the mass nesting season at Gahirmatha beach, a key rookery for the species. The satellite tracking initiative is a collaborative effort between the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and the Odisha Forest Department, aimed at understanding the long-distance migration patterns of these marine creatures.

“We are monitoring their movements daily through the satellite devices,” said Dr. Suresh Kumar, senior scientist at WII. He noted that Olive Ridleys are known for their remarkable navigational abilities, often following ocean currents during their extensive travels across the Bay of Bengal.

Each year, thousands of Olive Ridley turtles come ashore along Odisha’s coastline, particularly at Gahirmatha, one of the world’s largest mass nesting sites. After laying eggs, many turtles head southward but typically remain within the Indian Ocean region.

Dr. Kumar also pointed out that Sri Lanka has emerged as a relatively safe haven for sea turtles in recent years. In 2017, the country became the first in Asia to ban bottom trawling and destructive trawl nets, a move that significantly boosted marine biodiversity and provided safer migratory routes for sea turtles.

The tracking study is expected to offer critical insights into turtle behavior, inform conservation strategies, and enhance protection efforts across international waters.