Tamil Nadu Launches Telemetry Study to Track Olive Ridley Turtles’ Routes and Hotspots

Quick Summary

• The Tamil Nadu government has allocated ₹84 lakh for a two-year study (2025-2027) to monitor Olive Ridley turtles along the State’s coastline.
• The project aims to track fine-scale turtle movements using telemetry technology, focusing on behaviour, nesting patterns, and interactions with fishing activities.
• The initiative comes after a surge in turtle deaths between December 2024 and March 2025 along northern Tamil Nadu’s coast due to entanglement in fishing nets.
• Specific actions include:

– Deploying satellite tags on 20 Olive Ridley turtles at nesting sites like the Chennai coast and Cauvery Delta.
– Using 10,000 flipper tags for long-term monitoring of nest-site fidelity and migration patterns.

• Key stakeholders:

– Wildlife institute of India (WII) will manage satellite tagging efforts with ₹53.65 lakh funding.
– advanced Institute for Wildlife Conservation (AIWC) will conduct near-shore surveys and fieldwork with ₹30.29 lakh funding.

• Studies aim to identify high-conservation-value zones where fishing regulations may be necessary to reduce turtle bycatch risks.

Indian Opinion Analysis

Tamil Nadu’s decision to invest in tracking Olive Ridley turtles reflects a commendable intersection of technology-driven research with conservation policy. Addressing the recent spike in turtle deaths highlights an urgent need for more data about threats posed by habitat loss and human activities such as fishing.

The deployment of advanced tools like satellite telemetry has potential long-term benefits, offering insights into migratory routes that can definitely help mitigate risks proactively. Collaborating with local fishermen is especially critically important-balancing ecological concerns with livelihoods is essential for sustainable conservation outcomes.

This project could have broader implications: if successful, it might serve as a model for other coastal states grappling with marine biodiversity challenges while fostering international dialog about preserving highly migratory species like the Olive Ridley turtle.

Read more: https://www.thehindu.com/theme/images/th-online/