A file photo of mass nesting Olive Ridley turtles on the Rushikulya estuary beach at Podampeta in Ganjam district, Odisha. | Photo credit: BISWARANJAN ROUT
The Union Budget’s proposal to develop “turtle trails” along key nesting sites in the coastal regions of Odisha, Karnataka and Kerala has drawn sharp skepticism and concern among conservationists and researchers who argue that mass nesting sites should be protected from anthropogenic pressure.
Mass nesting or arribada of endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles is a rare phenomenon that is only recorded along India and Costa Rica and on a few beaches in the world. Odisha is home to the largest mass nesting of Olive Ridley turtles in the world.
Odisha has two mass breeding sites – Gahirmatha in Kendrapara district and Rushikulya mouth in Ganjam district. No outsider is allowed to visit Gahirmatha as it is located near the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, India’s missile testing centre.
Rushikulya used to be visited by a huge number of wildlife enthusiasts. However, the mass nesting was observed to be disturbed by visitors and the state forest and environment department brought some restrictions on the number of visitors who were allowed to view the mass nesting from a distance.
A record seven thousand Olive Ridley turtles laid their eggs at the Rushikulya nesting site during an eight-day mass nesting event in February last year.
“Under no circumstances should people or light go to mass nesting sites. There is no ambiguity in access. Although I don’t know the details of the turtle trails, it seems that there would be some structure on the beach that may be temporary to facilitate visitors,” said BC Choudhary, a leading Olive Ridley turtle researcher.
Dr. Choudhary said: “Mass nesting sites should be a strictly ‘no-go’ zone. Nowhere in the world where mass nesting occurs is photography allowed, nor can visitors bring flashes.”
“Ecotourism is harmful”
Biswajit Mohanty, a wildlife activist who has worked on Olive Ridley turtles for four decades, said: “There is ample evidence that ecotourism is harming nature. In Chilika Lake, large numbers of tourists on mechanized boats go into the lake to look for endangered Irrawaddy dolphins. Disrupted ecotourism has now stopped controlling ecotourism.”
“Mass nesting of Olive Ridley turtles is highly sensitive. The turtles scatter the lights. If a turtle trail were to be allowed to allow ecotourism, it would disturb the tranquility and change the conditions suitable for mass nesting,” Mr Mohanty said.
“A very limited number of tourists should be allowed under strict conditions so that the nesting sites are not disturbed,” he said further.
“Mass breeding sites are highly sensitive sites. Providing access to these sites required a lot of consultation. However, I did not come across any consultation on this subject prior to its announcement in the 2026-27 budget,” he pointed out.
Mr. Mohanty pointed out that rather than coming up with a ‘turtle trail’, which sounds like a tourist idea, the government should have announced measures to strengthen conservation efforts.
According to him, the speedboats that were procured to enforce the fishing ban on the mating turtles lay defunct. “The government’s effort should be to put in place a robust enforcement mechanism instead of turning the place into an eco-tourism hotspot,” he said.
When contacted, Chief Wildlife Warden PK Jha refused to comment on the matter.
Published – 03 Feb 2026 16:59 IST