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Nearly 3 lakh Olive Ridley turtles arrive for mass nesting in Odisha: ‘True fantasy of nature’

The videos were shared on social media platforms by IAS Supriya Sahu.

Sahu shared 3,000 more Olive Ridley turtles came ashore from the Rushikulya River in Odisha

A spectacular event is unfolding along the shores of Odisha, where nearly three lakh Olive Ridley turtles have arrived for their annual mass nesting, known as “arribada”. That it’s happening during the daytime, offering conservationists and wildlife enthusiasts a unique opportunity to witness nature at its finest, makes this year’s nesting extraordinary.

Supriya Sahu, IAS and additional chief secretary of environment, climate change and forests, Government of Tamil Nadu, shared stunning videos of the turtles as they made their way onto the beach. She noted that Olive Ridleys “play a crucial role in maintaining the marine ecosystem,” and said that their large-scale return is a strong indicator of a healthy habitat.

Watch the video:

A spectacle of nature is unfolding in Odisha. Around 3 lakh Olive Ridley turtles have arrived for their annual mass nesting, known as arribada. In a rare event, this year’s nesting is diurnal. These turtles play a crucial role in maintaining the marine ecosystem, and their return… pic.twitter.com/vcOrsOfTmW

— Supriya Sahu IAS (@supriyasahuias) February 19, 2025

Sahu posted another video showing 3,000 more Olive Ridley turtles coming ashore from the Rushikulya River in Odisha, for nesting.

Meanwhile in Rushikulya Odisha about 3000 turtles nesting
Spectacular !

Video Bivash Pandav @wii_india pic.twitter.com/1R1rGRqTVf

— Supriya Sahu IAS (@supriyasahuias) February 20, 2025

The videos went viral and many X users responded to them. A user wrote, “Spectacular thing to witness.. it’s cool to see all these wonderful turtles have returned back to beaches of Odisha..i am curious about, on what basis all these turtles pick their nesting sites.”

Another X user said, “Nature has bestowed everything to maintain his every system. Turtles are one of them.”

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A third user, from Coimbatore, commented, “Hope our state’s Marine ecosystem is also well taken care of, because the turles should trust and pick our beaches as their nesting sites. turtle protection volunteers will have to play a huge role in it, but the public should also help in these turtle protection efforts.”

Sahu also shared an update on the ongoing issue of Olive Ridley turtles washing up dead along Tamil Nadu’s shores. “We had an insightful meeting with Dr Suresh, scientist and expert researcher from the Wildlife Institute of India, to discuss strategies for reducing Olive Ridley turtle mortality along the Tamil Nadu coast,” she wrote in her X post.