Operation Olivia

Current Context : Operation Olivia, initiated by the Indian Coast Guard, has successfully protected over 8 lakh Olive Ridley turtles this nesting season along Odisha’s Gahirmatha coast.

About Operation Olivia

• Started in the 1980s by the Indian Coast Guard.
• Conducted annually from November to May to monitor and safeguard the turtles’ mass nesting, known as Arribada.
• Key Locations:
  • Gahirmatha Beach
  • Rushikulya River Mouth
  • Devi River Mouth
• Objective: To protect nesting grounds, prevent poaching, and ensure safe hatching and return of the turtles to sea.

About Olive Ridley Turtles

• Scientific Name: Lepidochelys olivacea.
• Habitat: Circumtropical distribution – across tropical oceans, excluding the Gulf of Mexico.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
  • CITES: Appendix I (highest protection against international trade)