Operation Olivia
Indian Coast Guard has recently launched Operation Olivia for the protection of Olive Ridley Turtles in Odisha.
Under this campaign, between November 2020 and May 2021, the Coast Guard has protected around 3.49 lakh turtles by giving 225 ship days and 388 aircraft hours.
What is Operation Olivia?
‘Operation Olivia’ was first launched by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) in the early 1980s. This operation helps protect the ‘Olive Ridley’ turtles every year when they nest off the Odisha coast for breeding in the months of November to December. Under this, 24 hours surveillance is carried out by the Coast Guard from November to May through Fast Patrol Vessel, Interceptor Craft, Air Cushion Vessel and Dornier Aircraft.
Olive Ridley Turtels
- Olive Ridley turtles are listed in the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in the ‘vulnerable’ category. Sea turtles found in India have been included in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
- In addition, these turtles are also listed in Appendix I of the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) of Wild Fauna and Flora.
- Olive Ridley’s collective nest is called Arribada. Gahirmatha, Astaranga Coast, Devi River estuary and Rushikulya are the 4 Arribada sites off the Odisha coast in India.
Source : The Hindu