Record-breaking number of Olive Ridley turtles have laid eggs in Odisha. The turtles are nesting in the Rushikulya River in the state’s Ganjam district. The eggs will hatch after around 45 days, and the baby turtles will head for the ocean. The nesting season is expected to last until February 25, 2025, according to the Wildlife Institute of India (WI) The WI has tagged over 330 of the turtles with GPS tags. The WII has also taken steps to protect the turtles and their eggs from harm. The number of eggs laid this year has surpassed the previous record of 6,37,008 set in 2023. The world’s largest turtle population is estimated to be around 6,000,000. It is estimated that the world’s population of turtles will grow to 10,000 in the next five years. The population growth rate for the turtles is estimated at around 2.5 per cent, compared to 1 per cent in the past five years, says the WI.
