Olive Ridley Turtle's Remarkable Journey: 1,000 km to Andhra Pradesh!

An Olive Ridley turtle, tagged at Gahirmatha beach in Odisha, has made an astonishing journey of 1,000 kilometers to the Andhra Pradesh coast in just 51 days. This remarkable feat highlights the importance of turtle tagging for understanding their migratory patterns and reproductive biology. With millions of these turtles nesting annually along the Odisha coast, conservation efforts are crucial. Discover more about this turtle's journey and the ongoing tagging initiatives aimed at protecting these marine creatures.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 16, 2025, 13:40 IST

Tracking the Journey of an Olive Ridley Turtle

Kendrapara: An Olive Ridley turtle, previously fitted with a satellite tracking device at Gahirmatha beach in Odisha's Kendrapara district, has made an impressive journey of approximately 1,000 kilometers over 51 days, reaching the coast of Andhra Pradesh, as reported by officials on Friday.

During its voyage, the turtle navigated through the waters of Sri Lanka, Puducherry, and Tamil Nadu before arriving at the Andhra Pradesh coastline.

"The turtle successfully traveled through the sea regions of Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry, ultimately reaching Andhra Pradesh in just 51 days, covering around 1,000 kilometers," stated an official.

The latest tracking data from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) indicates that one of the tagged turtles is currently located in the waters off Andhra Pradesh, having traveled about 1,000 kilometers, according to Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) Prem Shankar Jha.

Another turtle, tagged four years ago in Odisha, had previously traveled 3,500 kilometers to lay eggs on a beach in Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra.

Every year, millions of Olive Ridley turtles gather for mass nesting along the Odisha coast, with Gahirmatha beach recognized as the world's largest nesting site for this species.

Additionally, these turtles are also seen nesting at the Rushikulya river mouth in Ganjam district and the Devi river mouth in Puri.

Officials report that approximately 3,000 turtles are tagged annually with tracking devices.

Experts suggest that tagging at least 100,000 turtles would provide more comprehensive data on their reproductive biology, migratory patterns, growth rates, and foraging areas.

The Odisha Forest Department initiated the tagging program in 1999, with two tagged turtles being spotted on the Sri Lankan coast at that time.

The program was later paused but was resumed by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) in 2021.

From 2021 to 2024, around 12,000 turtles have been tagged at the Gahirmatha and Rushikulya nesting sites, according to officials.