Saving the Last Shells: New Hope for Endangered Turtles:Planned interventions can give a chance to survive

Dhamra, 22.05.2025: For more than 200 million years, turtles have roamed the land and water, surviving mass extinctions. These slow-moving shelled reptiles have been resilient through history and helped maintain ecological balance in both land and water. Sea turtles have been termed “keystone species”, meaning, they are an important part of the environment and also influence other species around them.

But threats like pollution, loss of habitat, climate change, illegal trade, and poaching, have put many turtle species on the brink of extinction, raising concerns over how to protect and nurture them. Around the world, experts are working to find ways to save turtles through targeted intervention, community engagement, and support from authorities.

In India, some of the areas where turtles are found include the Western Ghats, the Northeast, and the coastal regions in Gujarat and Odisha. In Odisha, mass nesting events of Olive Ridley turtles have been recorded, especially in Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary and Rushikulya beaches. Olive Ridley sea turtles are listed as “vulnerable” in the International Union for Conservation of Nature(IUCN)Red Data Book. Gahirmatha’s closeness to Dhamra Port, operated by the Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ), makes the conservation efforts extremely critical for the species.

Over the years, several measures have been implemented around the port area. Dark sky-friendly lighting system has been installed in the port and nearby township to minimise glare towards the sea. This was developed in consultation withIUCN turtle conservation experts and helps facilitate safe movement of turtles in their congregation areas.

Olive ridley turtles migrate to coastal Odisha for mass nesting between November and May. Dhamra Port undertakes collaborative efforts with the government during the mating, congregation, nesting and hatching seasons and sea-worthy trawlers are provided to the local forest department for patrolling so that the reptiles can be monitored. The port area and navigation channels are away from the turtle congregation zones and buoys are given to fishing boats in an effort to prevent them from entering critical zones. Regular drives are conducted for the local communities to raise awareness about turtle conservation. As part of compliance with IUCN recommendations, dredging protocols are specially designed in the area. In 2024-25 season, nearly 6.04 lakh Olive Ridley turtles nesting at Gahirmatha.

As part of conservation efforts, Dhamra Port has submitted a proposal for establishing an “Olive Ridley Turtle and Estuarine Crocodile Research Centre” at Dhamra in partnership with the Government of Odisha.

Turtles play a key role in maintaining biodiversity as they impact both marine and terrestrial ecosystems. With focus on their conservation, steps are being taken at the global scale to plan effective intervention and mitigate the impact of climate change, pollution and loss of habitat for the species. Every year, May 23 is celebrated asWorld Turtle Day.