Context
• Budget proposes “turtle trails” in Odisha, Karnataka and Kerala
• Conservationists warn mass-nesting sites are extremely sensitive
• Artificial lights and tourist movement disturb Olive Ridley turtles
• Article also refers to Irrawaddy dolphins in Chilika Lake
Olive Ridley Turtle
• IUCN Status: Vulnerable
• Mass nesting (Arribada): Rare phenomenon; mainly in India and Costa Rica
India’s Major Nesting Sites
• Gahirmatha (Kendrapara, Odisha) – world’s largest rookery
• Rushikulya (Ganjam, Odisha)
Sensitivity
• Highly sensitive to light, noise and human presence
• Nesting beaches must be no-go zones
Irrawaddy Dolphin
• Habitat: Estuaries and brackish waters (e.g., Chilika Lake, Odisha)
• IUCN Status: Endangered
• Features: Rounded head, absence of beak, low triangular dorsal fin
• Threats: Boat traffic, habitat disturbance, fishing nets
