Rushikulya Rookery and Olive Ridley Turtles

The Rushikulya rookery in Odisha is set to welcome and protect the Olive Ridley turtles during the upcoming mass nesting season.

• Where is the Rushikulya Rookery located?

The Ruskikulya Rookery is located in Odisha. The rookery is situated on the Rushikulya Beach in Ganjam district. The coast of Odisha is the largest mass nesting site for these sea turtles. There has been concern over the delays in the annual arrival of the turtles over the past few years.

• What is an arribada?

An ‘arribada’ is a mass nesting event of turtles. Such mass nesting behaviour is exhibited by the Olive Ridley turtles and the related Kemps Ridley turtles. India has the largest arribada site of Olive Ridleys. Other major sites are in coast of Mexico and Costa Rica.

• What is a ‘turtle excluder device’?

A turtle excluder device (TED) is a specialised device used in fishing nets to allow the sea turtles that are accidentally trapped in it to escape. Sea turtles are air breathing i.e. they need to return to the surface to breathe. Hence they drown if they don’t escape the fishing nets. The Odisha government made it mandatory for trawls to use these TEDs.