The Rushikulya river mouth in Odisha’s Ganjam district has once again emerged as a crucial rookery for the endangered Olive Ridley turtles. As of February 2025, a record-breaking 6.82 lakh turtles have arrived for mass nesting, surpassing the previous year’s count of 6.37 lakh turtles recorded in 2023.
The annual mass nesting, known as Arribada, began on February 16, 2025. With the nesting period still ongoing, the number of nesting turtles might increase further, according to Berhampur Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Sunny Khokkar. In comparison, in 2023, the mass nesting took place from February 23 to March 2, and 5.50 lakh turtles had arrived in 2022.
Wildlife experts and scientists attribute this record-breaking number to favorable climatic conditions. Bivas Pandav, a senior scientist at the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, stated that improved weather conditions have led to a higher number of turtles laying eggs at the Rushikulya rookery.
With the nesting happening on time, experts predict a higher survival rate of hatchlings. Basudev Tripathy, a senior scientist at the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), emphasized that the timely nesting increases the chances of successful hatching, leading to a larger population of baby turtles making their way to the sea.
The ongoing research efforts at Rushikulya have helped scientists track the movements and nesting behaviors of Olive Ridley turtles. Anil Mohapatra, another senior scientist from ZSI, revealed that over 330 turtles have been recaptured so far. These turtles were GPS-tagged between 2021 and 2023, aiding in scientific studies on their migration patterns.
To ensure the safety of Olive Ridley eggs from predators, the Odisha Forest Department has implemented protective measures along a 9-km nesting stretch from New Podampeta to Prayagi. Dibya Shankar Behera, Khallikote Range Officer, stated that fencing has been placed in the newly extended nesting areas to protect the turtle eggs from threats like predatory animals and human interference.
Rushikulya has been gaining recognition as one of the most important nesting sites for Olive Ridley turtles globally. The continued conservation efforts by wildlife researchers, forest officials, and environmentalists have contributed to making this region a safe haven for the species, ensuring their survival for future generations.
The Rushikulya river mouth in Odisha’s Ganjam district has once again emerged as a crucial rookery for the endangered Olive Ridley turtles. As of February 2025, a record-breaking 6.82 lakh turtles have arrived for mass nesting, surpassing the previous year’s count of 6.37 lakh turtles recorded in 2023.
The annual mass nesting, known as Arribada, began on February 16, 2025. With the nesting period still ongoing, the number of nesting turtles might increase further, according to Berhampur Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Sunny Khokkar. In comparison, in 2023, the mass nesting took place from February 23 to March 2, and 5.50 lakh turtles had arrived in 2022.
Wildlife experts and scientists attribute this record-breaking number to favorable climatic conditions. Bivas Pandav, a senior scientist at the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, stated that improved weather conditions have led to a higher number of turtles laying eggs at the Rushikulya rookery.
With the nesting happening on time, experts predict a higher survival rate of hatchlings. Basudev Tripathy, a senior scientist at the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), emphasized that the timely nesting increases the chances of successful hatching, leading to a larger population of baby turtles making their way to the sea.
The ongoing research efforts at Rushikulya have helped scientists track the movements and nesting behaviors of Olive Ridley turtles. Anil Mohapatra, another senior scientist from ZSI, revealed that over 330 turtles have been recaptured so far. These turtles were GPS-tagged between 2021 and 2023, aiding in scientific studies on their migration patterns.
To ensure the safety of Olive Ridley eggs from predators, the Odisha Forest Department has implemented protective measures along a 9-km nesting stretch from New Podampeta to Prayagi. Dibya Shankar Behera, Khallikote Range Officer, stated that fencing has been placed in the newly extended nesting areas to protect the turtle eggs from threats like predatory animals and human interference.
Rushikulya has been gaining recognition as one of the most important nesting sites for Olive Ridley turtles globally. The continued conservation efforts by wildlife researchers, forest officials, and environmentalists have contributed to making this region a safe haven for the species, ensuring their survival for future generations.
