Olive Ridley turtles have converged in large numbers at the Rushikulya river mouth in Odisha’s Ganjam district for their annual mass nesting. Termed Arribada, this year the natural phenomenon began on February 16 and is expected to last until February 25, said Rabindranath Sahu, secretary of the Rushikulya Sea Turtle Protection Group, as per a report by CNBC TV. According to a PTI report, based on data from the Odisha Forest Department, sea turtles have so far laid 5,55,638 eggs at the Rushikulya and Devi river mouths. On Saturday, Indian Forest Services (IFS) officer Parveen Kaswan shared a video showcasing thousands of Olive Ridley turtles nesting along the coast. “Imagine and witness this natures extravaganza. Where lakhs of olive Ridley turtles are visiting for mass nesting on Indian coasts. Here one at Rushikulya River under close watch of forest department," he wrote on X. Watch here: Imagine and witness this natures extravaganza. Where lakhs of olive Ridley turtles are visiting for mass nesting on Indian coasts. Here one at Rushikulya River under close watch of forest department. VC @dfobhmpr pic.twitter.com/43lQ2WTAOz — Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) February 22, 2025 Earlier, Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary of Environment, Climate Change and Forests, Government of Tamil Nadu, shared stunning visuals of the turtles and said the event is diurnal – occurring during the day – this time. "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 is a promising sign of a healthy habitat," the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer wrote. 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 According to the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), Olive Ridley turtles are found in the tropical regions of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. In the Pacific, it typically inhabits beaches from Mexico to Colombia. In the Indian Ocean, it is most abundant along the eastern coasts of India and Sri Lanka. Female Olive Ridleys usually nest one to three times per season, laying an average of 100 to 110 eggs per clutch. For solitary nesters, the interval between nesting is around 14 days, while for arribada nesters, it is about 28 days. The eggs incubate for 50 to 60 days, as per NWF.
