Every year, Olive Ridley turtles return to Odisha’s coast to mate, feed and nest. By the time thousands of them appear on the sand, however, much of their journey has already happened offshore.

What they do before reaching the beach is harder to see.

Where do they travel? How long do they stay close to the coast? Do males and females use the same waters? And which stretches of the Bay of Bengal do they depend on before arriving at one of Odisha’s mass-nesting beaches?

A three-year research initiative led by the Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII) is beginning to answer some of these questions by following the turtles beyond the shoreline.

The first-year report of the study, released by Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia, Minister of State for Forest, Environment & Climate Change, Labour & ESI, combines satellite telemetry with boat-based surveys and shoreline analysis to understand how Olive Ridleys use Odisha’s coastal waters and nesting habitats.

Following the turtles offshore

Satellite telemetry allows researchers to track an animal’s movements after a transmitter is attached to it. For Olive Ridleys, this offers a glimpse into habitats that cannot be observed from the shore.

The initial fieldwork focused on the Gahirmatha rookery in Kendrapada district, while satellite tagging was carried out at both Gahirmatha and Rushikulya in Ganjam district.

The results already suggest that Olive Ridleys do not all follow the same movement patterns.

Male turtles began their offshore migration earlier, while females spent longer periods in nearshore waters. The tracking data also indicated possible foraging stopovers along the continental shelf and across the Bay of Bengal.

Their routes through coastal waters, feeding areas and the........

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