Why in News?

• Recently, The Rushikulya beach in India’s Odisha state has witnessed the highest-ever congregation of Olive Ridley sea turtles in the past few decades.

Highlights

• Millions of baby turtles have emerged from their eggshells and started their journey towards the Bay of Bengal using vast seawater routes.
• The Rushikulya beach Is not a wildlife sanctuary, yet turtles feel safe to carry out mass nesting.
• The successful mass nesting and hatching indicates a healthy marine ecosystem and a conducive environment for sea turtles to lay eggs.
• The successful hatching of many Olive Ridley turtles is a positive sign for their conservation.
• The Olive ridley turtles are the smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles found in the world.
• These turtles are carnivores and get their name from their olive-colored carapace.
• They are best known for their unique become a personal trainer online mass nesting called Arribada, where thousands of females come together on the same beach to lay eggs.
• The Indian Coast Guard’s “Operation Olivia”, initiated in the early 1980s, helps protect Olive Ridley turtles as they congregate along the Odisha coast for breeding and nesting from November to December.
• It also Intercepts unlawful trawling activities.