An endangered Olive Ridley turtle has stunned scientists by traveling over 3,500 kilometers across India — the first recorded instance of such a journey between the east and west coasts. Watch this report to know more!

Endangered Olive Ridley turtle travels 3,500 km across India

<p>This year, Rushikulya shore in Odisha's Ganjam district has seen a record-breaking 6.37 lakh Olive Ridley sea turtles arrive for mass nesting, breaking the previous record of 5.5 lakh.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per Berhampur Divisional Forest Officer Sunny Khokkar who spoke to the Hindu, the development of new beaches for egg-laying close to the Podampetta region was the reason behind the arrival of 6.37 lakh turtles from February 23 to March 2, which is considered the peak nesting time.</p>

<p>Khokkar said, this year, the beaches remained unaffected as there were no extreme weather events such as cyclones and heavy rain and turtles ascended perfectly sloped beaches at the Rushikulya river mouth. Last year, 5.5 lakh Olive Ridley turtles had come to Rushikulya for mass nesting.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-bjps-ravi-shankar-prasad-slams-rahul-gandhi-for-seeking-foreign-intervention-569665">India: BJP's Ravi Shankar Prasad slams Rahul Gandhi for ‘seeking foreign intervention’</a></p>

<p>“The actual number of Olive Ridleys coming to Rushikulya river mouth would go up as turtles keep coming to the coast after March 2. We are currently counting the number of turtles received during sporadic nesting witnessed after March 2,” he said. The forest division has stepped up its supervision to prevent turtle mortality by deploying forest officials.</p>

<h2><strong>How does an Olive Ridley lay eggs?</strong></h2>

<p>Olive Ridley turtles spend hours at a stretch digging burrows in the sand with their front flippers. They then sweep sand out of the hollow using their hind flippers to form a cavity. A large number of eggs are laid at once, and they are then again covered with sand. The turtles lay their eggs, which would hatch after 40–60 days, and then depart for the sea just before daybreak. In the months of April and May, the hatchlings are anticipated to break the surface of the eggs.</p>

<p><em><strong>Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos, and videos on social media.</strong></em></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Over 600,000 Olive Ridley Sea Turtles have come ashore this season in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Odisha?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Odisha</a> to lay eggs. Remarkable.. a wonder of the natural world. Original FB post <a href="https://twitter.com/BNHSIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BNHSIndia</a> here <a href="https://t.co/QJCT05yG98">https://t.co/QJCT05yG98</a> <a href="https://t.co/PeXbgccP8H">pic.twitter.com/PeXbgccP8H</a></p>
— Nirmal Ghosh (@karmanomad) <a href="https://twitter.com/karmanomad/status/1632753429528338434?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Turtles also arrive at Gahirmatha beach in Odisha’s Kendrapara district, also known as the world’s largest known rookery. Besides, Puri and Devi river mouth beaches too host Olive Ridley turtles around time around.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/arrival-of-spring-in-kashmir-thousands-of-almond-trees-in-full-bloom-569635">Arrival of spring in Kashmir, thousands of almond trees in full bloom</a></p>

<p>“This year, we propose to tag 3,200 turtles. It is heartening to note that 150 Olive Ridley turtles which were tagged have returned to lay eggs on beaches of Odisha this year,” ZSI scientist Anil Mohapatra told The Hindu.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Mohapatra said two turtles tagged in Odisha were located in Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu. The ZSI has aimed to tag over 30,000 over a period of 10 years. The ZSI study focuses on how frequently turtles return to the beaches in Odisha for mass nesting as well as the many factors that influence turtle activity.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:</strong></p>

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This year, Rushikulya shore in Odisha's Ganjam district has seen a record-breaking 6.37 lakh Olive Ridley sea turtles arrive for mass nesting, breaking the previous record of 5.

This year, Rushikulya shore in Odisha's Ganjam district has seen a record-breaking 6.37 lakh Olive Ridley sea turtles arrive for mass nesting, breaking the previous record of 5.5 lakh. As per Berhampur Divisional Forest Officer Sunny Khokkar who spoke to the Hindu, the development of new beaches for egg-laying close to the Podampetta region was the reason behind the arrival of 6.37 lakh turtles from February 23 to March 2, which is considered the peak nesting time. Khokkar said, this year, the beaches remained unaffected as there were no extreme weather events such as cyclones and heavy rain and turtles ascended perfectly sloped beaches at the Rushikulya river mouth. Last year, 5.5 lakh Olive Ridley turtles had come to Rushikulya for mass nesting. ALSO READ | India: BJP's Ravi Shankar Prasad slams Rahul Gandhi for ‘seeking foreign intervention’ “The actual number of Olive Ridleys coming to Rushikulya river mouth would go up as turtles keep coming to the coast after March 2. We are currently counting the number of turtles received during sporadic nesting witnessed after March 2,” he said. The forest division has stepped up its supervision to prevent turtle mortality by deploying forest officials. How does an Olive Ridley lay eggs? Olive Ridley turtles spend hours at a stretch digging burrows in the sand with their front flippers. They then sweep sand out of the hollow using their hind flippers to form a cavity. A large number of eggs are laid at once, and they are then again covered with sand. The turtles lay their eggs, which would hatch after 40–60 days, and then depart for the sea just before daybreak. In the months of April and May, the hatchlings are anticipated to break the surface of the eggs. Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos, and videos on social media. Over 600,000 Olive Ridley Sea Turtles have come ashore this season in #Odisha to lay eggs. Remarkable.. a wonder of the natural world. Original FB post @BNHSIndia here https://t.co/QJCT05yG98 pic.twitter.com/PeXbgccP8H — Nirmal Ghosh (@karmanomad) March 6, 2023 × Turtles also arrive at Gahirmatha beach in Odisha’s Kendrapara district, also known as the world’s largest known rookery. Besides, Puri and Devi river mouth beaches too host Olive Ridley turtles around time around. ALSO READ | Arrival of spring in Kashmir, thousands of almond trees in full bloom “This year, we propose to tag 3,200 turtles. It is heartening to note that 150 Olive Ridley turtles which were tagged have returned to lay eggs on beaches of Odisha this year,” ZSI scientist Anil Mohapatra told The Hindu. Mohapatra said two turtles tagged in Odisha were located in Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu. The ZSI has aimed to tag over 30,000 over a period of 10 years. The ZSI study focuses on how frequently turtles return to the beaches in Odisha for mass nesting as well as the many factors that influence turtle activity. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

In a first, over 6 lakh Olive Ridley turtles lay eggs on Odisha beach

<p>Despite Mumbai&#39;s polluted beaches, the Olive Ridley turtles seem to have found one beach clean enough to nest, with around 80 hatchlings making their way to the Arabian Sea on Thursday.</p>

<p>A group of volunteers engaged in a clean-up of the Versova beach here stumbled upon the sight of Olive Ridley hatchlings on the beach. They called forest officials and ensured the turtles walked into the sea sans any hindrance.</p>

<p>Mumbai-based lawyer and environmentalist Afroz Shah, who initiated the beach clean-up drive in 2015, was present when the group noticed the hatchlings.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Yes yes .. We did it .. Thank you Afroz . Here is the journey . lovely Mumbaikars . we did . Urban cities getting our olive Ridley turtle back . <a href="https://t.co/vg4ZJe5cTk">pic.twitter.com/vg4ZJe5cTk</a></p>
&mdash; Clean Up Versova (@versovabeach) <a href="https://twitter.com/versovabeach/status/976748792312750082?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>&quot;We were told by officials that the last such sighting of Olive Ridley turtles on the beach was 20 years ago,&quot; Shah said.</p>

<p>N Vasudevan, additional principal chief conservator of forests, said, &quot;We haven&#39;t noticed any nesting of turtles on Versova beach in the last several years. They normally lay eggs at places they feel safe and secure.&quot;</p>

<p>The forest official said there was a possibility that adult female tortoises came back to nest at the place they were born.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Week 127 .<br />
<br />
Fantastic news for Mumbai .<br />
<br />
We got back Olive Ridley Sea Turtle after 20 years. Historic moment<br />
<br />
Nested and Hatched at our beach. We facilitate their journey to ocean.<br />
<br />
Constant cleaning helps marine species.<br />
<br />
Marine conservation centre needed at <a href="https://twitter.com/versovabeach?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@versovabeach</a> <a href="https://t.co/j79xCKamNh">pic.twitter.com/j79xCKamNh</a></p>
&mdash; Afroz Shah (@AfrozShah1) <a href="https://twitter.com/AfrozShah1/status/976747654079303681?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>&quot;In Maharashtra, we keep noticing sporadic nesting of Olive Ridley turtles, including on the Ratnagiri, Raigad and Palghar coast,&quot; Vasudevan told.</p>

<p>Shah described the news as &quot;fantastic and a historic moment for Mumbai&quot;.</p>

<p>&quot;The turtles nested and hatched at our beach. We facilitated their journey to the sea,&quot; he said, adding, that &quot;constant cleaning of the beach helps marine species.&quot;</p>

<p>A volunteer, who was present at the Versova beach this morning, said, &quot;I have witnessed something surreal today. A life-changing experience. Eighty Olive Ridley turtles walking back to the sea.&quot;</p>

<p>In July last year, an adult Olive Ridley turtle was rescued from Juhu beach in suburban Mumbai. Animal activists had rushed the turtle to a local vet clinic.</p>

<p>The Olive Ridley sea turtle (scientific name: Lepidochelys olivacea), also known as the Pacific Ridley sea turtle, is a medium-size species of sea turtle found in warm and tropical waters, primarily in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.</p>

<p>They can also be found in the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean.</p>


The forest official said there was a possibility that adult female tortoises came back to nest at the place they were born.

Despite Mumbai's polluted beaches, the Olive Ridley turtles seem to have found one beach clean enough to nest, with around 80 hatchlings making their way to the Arabian Sea on Thursday. A group of volunteers engaged in a clean-up of the Versova beach here stumbled upon the sight of Olive Ridley hatchlings on the beach. They called forest officials and ensured the turtles walked into the sea sans any hindrance. Mumbai-based lawyer and environmentalist Afroz Shah, who initiated the beach clean-up drive in 2015, was present when the group noticed the hatchlings. Yes yes .. We did it .. Thank you Afroz . Here is the journey . lovely Mumbaikars . we did . Urban cities getting our olive Ridley turtle back . pic.twitter.com/vg4ZJe5cTk — Clean Up Versova (@versovabeach) March 22, 2018 × "We were told by officials that the last such sighting of Olive Ridley turtles on the beach was 20 years ago," Shah said. N Vasudevan, additional principal chief conservator of forests, said, "We haven't noticed any nesting of turtles on Versova beach in the last several years. They normally lay eggs at places they feel safe and secure." The forest official said there was a possibility that adult female tortoises came back to nest at the place they were born. Week 127 . Fantastic news for Mumbai . We got back Olive Ridley Sea Turtle after 20 years. Historic moment Nested and Hatched at our beach. We facilitate their journey to ocean. Constant cleaning helps marine species. Marine conservation centre needed at @versovabeach pic.twitter.com/j79xCKamNh — Afroz Shah (@AfrozShah1) March 22, 2018 × "In Maharashtra, we keep noticing sporadic nesting of Olive Ridley turtles, including on the Ratnagiri, Raigad and Palghar coast," Vasudevan told. Shah described the news as "fantastic and a historic moment for Mumbai". "The turtles nested and hatched at our beach. We facilitated their journey to the sea," he said, adding, that "constant cleaning of the beach helps marine species." A volunteer, who was present at the Versova beach this morning, said, "I have witnessed something surreal today. A life-changing experience. Eighty Olive Ridley turtles walking back to the sea." In July last year, an adult Olive Ridley turtle was rescued from Juhu beach in suburban Mumbai. Animal activists had rushed the turtle to a local vet clinic. The Olive Ridley sea turtle (scientific name: Lepidochelys olivacea), also known as the Pacific Ridley sea turtle, is a medium-size species of sea turtle found in warm and tropical waters, primarily in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. They can also be found in the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

Olive Ridley turtles back at Mumbai beach after 20 years

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Endangered Olive Ridley turtle travels 3,500 km across India

In a first, over 6 lakh Olive Ridley turtles lay eggs on Odisha beach

Olive Ridley turtles back at Mumbai beach after 20 years