Distribution

• Found in tropical and subtropical waters across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.
• Commonly nests on sandy beaches and feeds in shallow coastal waters, lagoons, and seagrass meadows.

Ecological Importance

• Acts as a keystone species by maintaining seagrass bed productivity, ensuring the stability of marine ecosystems.
• Supports nutrient cycling between marine and coastal ecosystems.

Threats Faced

• Coastal development, pollution, fishing net entanglement, climate change, and illegal egg collection.
• Rising sea surface temperatures.

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List: Least Concern
• CITES: Appendix I – International trade prohibited.
• Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I

Source: The Hindu