Help Olive Ridley Sea Turtles Survive

Every year the olive ridley sea turtles arrive at Odisha beaches (world’s largest nesting ground) to lay eggs in mass on the beaches where they were born. Unfortunately, these species are fighting for their lives due to human and other threats. To counter the high mortality rate (average 5000 mortality per year) and low survival rate (1 in 1000), these gentle creatures have been pushed towards the brink of extinction. These species are playing an important role by maintaining healthy ecosystems, sustainability of fisheries, key habitat for other marine life, helping to balance marine food webs. But their decline has had a negative impact on ecosystem.

Action for Protection of Wild Animals (APOWA) have already undertaken actions for the protection of Olive Ridley turtles across Odisha through activities such as appointment of turtle guards for protection of nesting sites, development of hatcheries, assisting in hatching process, releasing disoriented hatchlings in to the ocean, sensitizing local communities and annual beach clean-up drives during sea turtle nesting season. The present project proposes to create further avenues for community engagement and create a strong network of community volunteers and community based organisations for the conservation of sea turtles in Odisha.

This project will increase the survival of olive ridleys. This project will create grassroots-level conservation champions among the community who shall become the spoke-persons for turtle conservation. Such a sense of ownership will help to reduce littering on nesting beaches, increase monitoring of poaching, and to create community-level support to nesting habitat protection. This project impact might be reducing the un-natural deaths of nesting turtles and hatchlings. The conservation of Olive Ridleys will also positive impact on the lives and livelihoods of the fishermen. It is a win-win situation where both the community and the wildlife get benefited. Turtles need your support.