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Almost half a million turtles nest here annually,
between January and March, on the beaches of Gahirmatha in the Bhitarkanika
Wildlife Sanctuary (Kendrapada district), the mouth of the river Rushikulya
(Ganjam district) and the mouth of the river Devi (Puri district).
Today, Gahirmatha is the only remaining place worldwide where the famed mass nesting or arribada has consistently being taking place over the last decade. From 1975 onwards Gahirmatha has supported the largest reported arribadas which range from a 100 – 700,000 nesting turtles every year. Recent genetic studies suggest that these Olive Ridleys that nest in Orissa and India’s east coast are distinct from other ridleys and could even be the ancestors to populations in other ocean basins. This theory emphasizes the need to conserve this population - as an evolutionarily significant unit as well as a management unit.
Today, Gahirmatha is the only remaining place worldwide where the famed mass nesting or arribada has consistently being taking place over the last decade. From 1975 onwards Gahirmatha has supported the largest reported arribadas which range from a 100 – 700,000 nesting turtles every year. Recent genetic studies suggest that these Olive Ridleys that nest in Orissa and India’s east coast are distinct from other ridleys and could even be the ancestors to populations in other ocean basins. This theory emphasizes the need to conserve this population - as an evolutionarily significant unit as well as a management unit.
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