Dikhyaa Mohanty 
The Odisha government used satellite-linked monitoring devices to tag six Olive Ridley sea turtles at Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary in Kendrapada district, greatly advancing marine conservation efforts. To collect vital information on near-shore mobility patterns, nine turtles—five females and four males—will be tagged. According to a senior forest official cited by the PTI, plans are in place to tag three more turtles at the Rushikulya river mouth in Ganjam district, another important nesting spot, in the upcoming days.
Understanding movement patterns, locating important habitats, reducing hazards like fishing bycatch, creating dynamic Marine Protected Areas, and learning more about the feeding and breeding stages of the turtles’ life cycle are the main objectives of the tagging. According to the official, “this will provide vital insights into their behavior and help formulate effective policies for the conservation of Olive Ridley turtles, while also benefiting stakeholders like local fishing communities.”
According to Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden PK Jha, the initiative followed decisions made during a High Power Committee meeting on December 17. Six turtles — three males and three females — were tagged at Gahirmatha beach between December 21 and 24. Jha emphasized Odisha’s pioneering role in Olive Ridley conservation, noting that satellite telemetry studies began in the state as early as 2001. The programme was revived in 2024, following committee recommendations, to focus on near-shore movements.
Earlier this year, two turtles were tagged as part of a tripartite arrangement between the forest department, Wildlife Institute of India (WII), and Dhamra Port Company Ltd. Before moving north, one of the turtles showed near-shore activity in Wheeler Island and the surrounding areas. By April 1, its tag had detached in the mangroves of Bhitarkanika. The second migrated widely, first eastward into open waters and then southward across Tamil Nadu to the seas east of Sri Lanka.
