The spectacular riddle of Olive Ridleys in Odisha

As the morning light broke on February 16, the contingent of forest field staff, volunteers from local communities, conservationists as well as researchers were delighted to see a stream of Olive Ridley turtles dawdling onto the inclines of Rushikulya beach of Ganjam district in Odisha. A little over 11,000, the army of sea turtles brought a sense of relief. The last season had reported a zero turnout.

Over the next two days, however, the happiness turned into amazement as the approximately 10-km-long beach – from New-Podampeta to Agasti Nuagaon – was crawling with mother Olive Ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) arriving in wave after wave. It was a wonder of nature, a spectacle. Soon pictures and videos of the ‘arribada,’ Spanish term for mass arrival by sea, went viral, drawing awe from one and all.