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Operation Olivia 2025: Coast Guard Protects Olive Ridley Turtles

20 May 20251 min read
ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGYOperation Olivia2025: Coast GuardProtects OliveRidley Turtles20 May 2025safalsetu.com

Why in the news

A record mass nesting at Rushikulya in 2025 was credited to the Coast Guard’s intensive conservation work under Operation Olivia.

Key facts

  • Run by: Indian Coast Guard (ICG).
  • Purpose: protect Olive Ridley turtles in the nesting season, November to May.
  • Area: Odisha coast, chiefly Gahirmatha Beach and the Rushikulya river mouth.
  • Record: over 6.98 lakh turtles nested at Rushikulya in February 2025.
  • Odisha receives more than 8 lakh turtles each year.

Significance

  • Olive Ridleys are in Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
  • IUCN Red List status: Vulnerable.
  • The operation fits India’s biodiversity commitments and SDG-14 (Life Below Water).

Exam angle

  • Initiating force: Indian Coast Guard.
  • Nesting sites: Gahirmatha and Rushikulya.
  • SDG link: SDG-14.

Test yourself

1. Which force runs Operation Olivia for protecting Olive Ridley turtles?

Operation Olivia is an Indian Coast Guard initiative.

2. Operation Olivia focuses mainly on Gahirmatha Beach and which river mouth in Odisha?

The focus areas are Gahirmatha and the Rushikulya river mouth.

3. Olive Ridley turtles are listed in which category of the IUCN Red List, per the Operation Olivia notes?

They are listed as Vulnerable and in Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act.

This topic is part of Daily Current Affairs 20 May 2025 (17 topics).

All topics of the dayDay quizMay 2025

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