Ganjam, Odisha – In a remarkable event for conservation, nearly 700,000 Olive Ridley turtles have laid eggs at the Rushikulya rookery in Odisha’s Ganjam district during an eight-day mass nesting period that ended on February 23, 2025. This marks a new record for the endangered species and is particularly significant since the turtles had skipped nesting at the beach last year.
The annual phenomenon, known as arribada (a Spanish term meaning “mass arrival”), began at a moderate pace on February 16 but quickly gained momentum as thousands of turtles crawled ashore to lay eggs. According to Sunny Khokkar, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Berhampur, a total of 6,98,718 Olive Ridleys nested at Rushikulya this season, surpassing the previous record of 637,000 turtles in 2023.
A Promising Comeback
Experts view this year’s mass nesting as an encouraging sign after the species skipped Rushikulya in 2024. The absence last year had raised concerns among conservationists, but the turtles’ return in such large numbers signals a positive trend.
Possible Second Phase of Nesting
Wildlife experts suggest that a second phase of nesting may occur on the beach in the coming weeks, based on previous patterns. The 2023 arribada took place from February 23 to March 2, while in 2022, around 550,317 turtles nested between March 27 and April 4.
A Global Conservation Hotspot
Rushikulya is one of the world’s most important nesting sites for Olive Ridley turtles, alongside Gahirmatha beach in Odisha and the coasts of Mexico and Costa Rica. Conservationists and forest officials have taken extensive measures to ensure the safety of the eggs, including beach patrols, restricting human activities, and preventing poaching and predation by animals.
With this year’s record-breaking numbers, conservationists remain hopeful for the successful hatching of millions of baby turtles in the coming weeks. The eggs, buried in the sand, typically hatch in 45 to 60 days, with hatchlings instinctively making their way to the sea under the moonlight—a breathtaking natural spectacle.
As experts continue to monitor the nesting site, this year’s arribada stands as a testament to successful conservation efforts and nature’s resilience.
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