Context:
Odisha government’s revived plan to build a dam at Pipalapanka has sparked protests, as locals and environmentalists accuse it of endangering the Rushikulya river to favour industries.
Rushikulya River:
- Major river in Odisha
- Originates from – Daringbadi hills in the Eastern Ghats
- Joins the Bay of Bengal
- Tributaries – Baghua, Dhanei, and Badanadi rivers.
- Ecological Significance – A globally famous rookery for the mass nesting of Olive Ridley sea turtles.
Olive Ridley Turtle:
- Smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles
- Habitat – warm waters of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans.
- Known for their unique mass nesting called Arribada
- The largest mass nesting site found in Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary, in the coast of Orissa
- Females return to the very same beach from where they first hatched, to lay their eggs.
- Help maintain the health of coral reefs and sea grass beds.
- Conservation Status –
- IUCN Red List: Vulnerable.
- Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I (highest protection).
- CITES: Appendix I (prohibits international trade).
- Conservation Effort – Operation Olivia, initiated in the early 1980s by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG)
Source: DTE
Previous Year Question
Which one of the following is the national aquatic animal of India?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2015 Prelims]
(a) Saltwater crocodile
(b) Olive Ridley turtle
(c) Gangetic dolphin
(d) Gharial
Answer: (c)