Development of Turtle Trails Along Karnataka Coast
News –
- In the Union Budget 2026-27, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the development of ecologically sustainable “Turtle Trails” along key nesting sites in coastal Karnataka, Odisha, and Kerala to boost eco-tourism.
- These trails aim to protect, monitor, and showcase the nesting sites of sea turtles that flock to the beaches between December and March.
Key Details of the Announcement:
- Objective: The initiative aims to promote responsible wildlife tourism while ensuring the conservation of marine biodiversity.
- Focus Species: The trails specifically target nesting sites for Olive Ridley turtles, which are globally vulnerable.
- Karnataka Locations: Experts have identified 18 beaches in Karnataka for this project, including 15 in Uttara Kannada, two in Udupi, and one in Mangaluru.
Additional Information – Olive Ridley Turtles
- About: They are the smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles found in the world.
- Scientific name: Lepidochelys olivacea; also known as the Pacific ridley sea turtle.
- Major nesting sites in India: Rushikulya rookery coast (Odisha), Gahirmatha beach (Bhitarkanika National park) and the mouth of the Debi River.
- Presence: Found in warm waters of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans.
- Features: Known for their unique mass nesting called Arribada, where thousands of females come together on the same beach to lay eggs.
- These are carnivores and feed mainly on jellyfish, shrimp etc.
- The eggs hatch in 45 to 60 days, depending on the temperature of the sand and atmosphere during the incubation period.
- Threats: Hunted for meat, shell and other anthropogenic factors like fishing trawlers etc.
- Conservation Status:
- IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
- Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
- CITES Appendix I
Steps Taken
- Operation Olivia of the Indian Coast Guard
- Mandatory use of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) to prevent accidental killing
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