- The phenomenon of hatching of baby turtles from the eggshells has begun at the beach of Kalam Island off Odisha coast in Kendrapara district.Kalam Island is a part of Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary.
- In the Indian Ocean, the majority of Olive Ridleys nest in two or three large groups near Gahirmatha in Orissa.The coast of Odisha in India is the largest mass nesting site for the Olive Ridley,followed by the coasts of Mexico and Costa Rica
- The Olive Ridley sea turtle has been listed on Schedule – I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act,1972.The Olive Ridley turtles are the smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles found in the world, inhabiting warm waters of the Pacific,Atlantic and Indian oceans.
- It is closely related to the Kemp’s Ridley,with the primary distinction being that olive Ridleys are found only in warmer waters,including the southern Atlantic,Pacific and Indian Oceans.
- The Olive Ridley is classified as vulnerable according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and is listed in Appendix I of CITES.
- The Convention on Migratory Species and the Inter-American Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles have also provided Olive Ridleys with protection,leading to increased conservation and management for this marine turtle.
- The major threats to Olive Ridley turtles are: a) poor fishing practices, b) development and exploitation of nesting beaches for ports, and tourist centres, c) poaching for their meat, shell and leather.
