Odisha resumes satellite tracking of Olive Ridley turtles after 15-year gap; CWLW hails ‘historic milestone’

In a landmark move for marine conservation, the Odisha Forest Department, in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), has resumed satellite tracking of endangered Olive Ridley turtles at Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary in the Kendrapara district after a 15-year hiatus.

Two female turtles were tagged with advanced transmitters, reigniting efforts to decode the species’ elusive migration patterns and bolster global conservation strategies. The information was shared on X by Odisha PCCF (WL) and Chief Wildlife Warden Prem Kumar Jha on Tuesday.

Why It Matters

Gahirmatha, the world’s largest nesting site for Olive Ridleys, sees mass nesting, known as arribada, annually. Yet, little is known about the turtles’ post-nesting routes or juvenile life stages.

The 2008 tracking project, which reportedly halted due to funding and tech limits, revealed migrations toward Sri Lanka. As such, the reboot uses upgraded tech to map habitats and tackle threats like fishing net entanglement.

ALSO READ: Why Olive Ridley Turtles Choose Odisha: Secrets of Gahirmatha and Rushikulya’s Arribada

The Technology Behind the Tracking

The turtles were fitted with Platform Transmitter Terminals (PTTs), lightweight (under 300 grams), waterproof satellite tags designed to minimize disruption to their natural behavior. Each device, attached to the carapace (upper shell) using non-invasive epoxy resin and fiberglass, includes:

1. GPS modules to log precise geographic coordinates.

2. Temperature sensors to monitor surrounding seawater conditions.

3. Surface time counters to record duration and frequency of breathing intervals.

Data is transmitted to orbiting satellites whenever the turtles surface, relaying real-time insights to WII’s research center in Dehradun for analysis. Further, the tags are designed to detach naturally during the turtles’ molting cycle, ensuring no long-term harm.

ALSO READ: First batch of Olive Ridley hatchlings make their way into sea in Odisha's Gahirmatha

Conservation Goals & Challenges

Chief Wildlife Warden Prem Kumar Jha called the project a ‘historic milestone’ for Odisha, a global leader in Olive Ridley protection. This data will identify critical habitats, migratory corridors, and foraging zones and will directly help in forming policies to curb threats like fishing net entanglement, which kills 8,000–10,000 turtles annually in Odisha alone.