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Olive Ridley Turtles and the Fragile Balance of Conservation
Kurma mela: The science of the mass nesting of Olive Ridley turtles
Context: Earlier this year, Odisha’s Rushikulya beach witnessed an awe-inspiring natural event — a record-breaking seven lakh Olive Ridley turtles nested along its shores in March.
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- These turtles are known for synchronised mass nesting events called arribada (Spanish for “arrival”).
- While this event was a hopeful sign, it also raised critical ecological and ethical concerns for conservationists.
Philopatry: The Return Home
- Olive Ridleys exhibit philopatry — a behaviour where turtles return to the same nesting site where they were born.
- They navigate using a “magnetic map” of the local geomagnetic field imprinted at birth.
- As more philopatric females return and nest, they reinforce site fidelity across generations.
- Studies on Loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) show they nest near cold-core eddies (nutrient-rich water), salinity, slope, predation risk, and rainfall.
About Olive Ridley Turtles
- Scientific Name: Lepidochelys olivacea
- IUCN Status: Listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List
- Despite localised increases in numbers, global populations have declined by 30–50% since 1960.
- Distribution: Warm waters of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans
- Notable Behaviour: Known for Arribada – mass nesting where thousands of females come ashore to lay eggs.
- Relation: Closely related to Kemp’s ridley turtle.
- Diet: Carnivorous – feeds on jellyfish, shrimp, snails, crabs, molluscs, and fish eggs.
- Major Nesting Sites: Their primary nesting zones include the Pacific coasts of Mexico and Central America, with Odisha as a vital secondary site.
- Odisha’s 480-km coastline has become a crucial nesting ground. The state is home to three major beaches: Gahirmatha, Devi, and Rushikulya, all vital to the species’ survival.
- International Trade: Banned under CITES Appendix I.
- Conservation Efforts: WWF-India works with local fishing communities in Odisha: Fencing nesting sites, Patrolling until hatching, and Ensuring safe passage of hatchlings to the sea.
Major Threats and Conservation Efforts
- Risks of Overcrowding: High numbers on limited beaches can cause intra-species conflict: Later arrivals may dig up existing nests, breaking eggs guided by olfactory cues and female urine. Broken eggs and disturbed soil attract predators, further threatening hatchlings.
- Temperature and Gender Imbalance: Temperature determines the sex of sea turtle hatchlings. Warmer beaches produce more females, potentially skewing population balance.
- Rising temperatures could lead to a reinforced multiplier effect, as more females return to the same beaches.
- The Conservation Paradox: Artificial incubation and beach protection have boosted populations. But over-intervention could allow weaker individuals to survive and reproduce, reducing genetic resilience.
- Human Involvement: Local communities, especially fisherfolk and villagers in Odisha, are crucial: Protect nests, prevent poaching, and assist scientists. However, unregulated turtle tourism poses new threats: Bright lights, flash photography, physical contact, and crowds can:
- Disrupt nesting behaviour
- Alter turtles’ memory and site fidelity
- Possibly deter turtles from returning
Cognitive and Ethical Considerations
- Scientists are beginning to explore turtles’ cognitive and emotional lives.
- Human behaviour may disrupt natural rhythms, even if unintentionally.
- Ethical imperative: Protect turtle habitats and balance tourism with conservation.
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The Source’s Authority and Ownership of the Article is Claimed By THE STUDY IAS BY MANIKANT SINGH
