About

• The olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) is considered the most abundant sea turtle in the world.  
• Olive ridleys are found only in warmer waters, including the southern Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans.  
• The olive ridley is omnivorous in its diet, feeding on algae, lobster, crabs, etc.
• They are remarkable navigators and migrate great distances between feeding and breeding ground.

Mass nesting in India

• The Olive Ridley Turtles come to the beaches of Odisha coast annually between November and December and stay on until April and May for mass nesting. Such mass nesting events are called arribadas.  
• While states like Maharashtra, Goa, and the offshore Andaman islands witness sporadic nesting of olive ridley turtles, Odisha is the only state in India that sees mass nesting of olive ridley turtles. 

Protection Status

IUCN Red List: Vulnerable; Wildlife Protection Act, 2022: Schedule I; CITES: Appendix I.