Olive Ridley Turtle

SEO Title: Olive Ridley Turtle: Habitat, Arribada, Conservation Status and Indian Coast

Category: Environment & Ecology | Marine Biodiversity | Wildlife

UPSC Notes

The Olive Ridley turtle is a marine turtle famous for its spectacular mass nesting phenomenon known as arribada.

Key Pointers

  • Scientific name: Lepidochelys olivacea.

  • One of the world's smaller marine turtles.

  • Named for its olive-green coloration.

  • Famous for mass nesting or arribada.

  • Important Indian nesting sites include the coast of Odisha.

  • Major threats:

    • Fishing-net entanglement

    • Habitat disturbance

    • Coastal development

    • Marine pollution

  • Conservation requires protection of nesting beaches and reduction of accidental capture in fisheries.

Prelims Focus: Olive Ridley → Lepidochelys olivacea → arribada → Odisha coast.