Biodiversity Conservation Projects: Sea Turtle Conservation Project

Initiated by MoEF in collaboration with UNDP in 1999.
Implemented in 10 coastal states, with emphasis in Odisha.
Aims to conserve olive ridley turtles and other endangered marine turtles.
Achievements include the use of Satellite Telemetry to locate migratory routes and promoting Turtle Exclusion Device (TED) in fishing trawlers to reduce turtle mortality in fishing nets.

Olive Ridley Turtle

The Olive ridley turtles are the smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles found in the world.
These turtles are carnivores and get their name from their olive colored carapace.
They are best known for their unique mass nesting called Arribada.
Habitat
- They are found in warm waters of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans.
- The Odisha’s Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary is known as the world’s largest rookery (colony of breeding animals) of sea turtles.
Protection Status:
- Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Scheduled 1
- IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
- CITES: Appendix I
Threats
- Marine pollution and waste.
- Human Consumption
- Fishing Trawlers