5 Nesting Grounds of Olive Ridley Sea Turtles in India

Olive ridley sea turtle is a big species of sea turtle found in the world, primarily in the Indian Oceans. These turtles are best known for their unique mass nesting in Indian beaches, along the coast of Odisha near Gahirmatha beach.

Gahirmatha Beach, Odisha

Gahirmatha beach of Odisha is largest mass nesting site for the olive ridley turtles in India. The beach is now now a part of the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary surrounded by mangroves forest and best place in India to spot Olive Ridley Sea Turtles.

Gahirmatha Marine Wildlife Sanctuary is very popular tourist attraction of Odisha, located in Bhitarkanika Mangroves and home to Olive ridley turtles, Indian python, King cobra, saltwater crocodile and water monitor.

Rushikulya River Mouth, Odisha

The river flows from the Daringbadi hill station and meets the Bay of Bengal at Puruna Bandha in Ganjam, create Rushikulya river beach estuary. The mouth of the Rushikulya river is another best sites of olive ridley sea turtles in India and beach in Odisha.

Devi River Mouth, Odisha

Devi river is a distributaries of Mahanadi that joins Bay of Bengal and the river mouth serves as a nesting ground for olive ridley sea turtles in Odisha during their breeding season. Rambha is another notified area in Odisha known to be a nesting site.

Marina Beach, Chennai

Marina beach of Chennai is the longest natural urban beach in India, Also one of the most crowded beaches of South India. The beach and its rich ecosystem is a protected site for olive ridley turtle nests especially along the Neelankarai section of the beach.

Velas Beach, Ratnagiri

Versova beach of Ratnagiri is not only home to turtles but the mangroves surrounded by coconut trees and a famous ecotourism place in Maharashtra where you can see endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles.

After 20 years Versova beach of Mumbai is now a new home to Ridley Sea Turtle in India, The beach was clearn by an environmentalist and team of Afroz Shah.

Best place to spot Olive-Ridley Sea Turtles in Odisha ?

The olive ridley sea turtle classified as vulnerable and there are list of ongoing conservation projects, especially in India and the coast of Odisha is best place in India to to spot olive ridley. Gahirmatha, Rambha, Rushikulya and Devi river mouth are best place to spot Olive-Ridley Sea Turtles in Odisha.

There are different species of sea turtle, tortoise and terrapin found in India, Olive-Ridley Sea Turtles, Assam roofed turtle, Indian Pond Terrapin and Indian star tortoise are few most common species.