Olive ridley turtles face grave threat as 2,641 carcasses washed ashore in January

As many as 2,641 olive ridley turtles were reportedly found dead along the Andhra Pradesh coast between January 1 and 30, raising serious concern about conservation efforts for the vulnerable species.

- Usha Peri @ Visakhapatnam

Additionally, over hundreds of carcasses washed ashore in the Machilipatnam and Krishna estuary regions. This increase in mortality during the critical nesting period has raised alarm among conservationists and environmentalists.

The state's coastline is a vital breeding and nesting ground for olive ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea), listed as vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

These turtles nest primarily along the sandy beaches of Andhra Pradesh from December to April, with large-scale nesting events occurring in the neighboring state of Odisha.

Beaches such as those near Sullurpeta, Tirupati, Nellore, Prakasam, Bapatla, and the Krishna and Godavari estuaries, Kakinada, as well as Anakapalli, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, and Srikakulam, are crucial for the turtles' nesting process.

These beaches serve as the birthplaces for thousands of hatchlings, who make their way into the ocean after emerging from their nests.

The offshore waters are also used by turtles migrating towards their annual nesting beaches in Andhra Pradesh, and the mass nesting beaches in Odisha.

In addition to olive ridleys, the state's waters are also used by hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata), listed as critically endangered by the IUCN, and green turtles (Chelonia mydas), which are endangered.