Lepidochelys olivacea
Olive Ridley Sea Turtle
ReptileBest Season: Jan–Mar
Best locations
3
Expert creators
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Field Reports (12 months)
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(c) odette a castro, all rights reserved, uploaded by odette a castro
About this species
Every winter, hundreds of thousands of olive ridley turtles arrive off the Odisha coast for one of the world's largest sea turtle nesting events — the mass synchronized nesting known as an arribada. Gahirmatha alone can see over half a million females nest across a few nights, making it one of India's most extraordinary and least-visited wildlife spectacles. Witnessing the olive ridley turtle mass nesting arribada on Odisha's Gahirmatha coast.
Behavior
Solitary and pelagic at sea, but famous for the arribada — thousands of females hauling out to nest on the same beach within the same few nights, overwhelming predators through sheer numbers.
Diet
Jellyfish, crustaceans, mollusks, and algae, foraged in coastal and open waters.
Field Reports
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Best locations for Olive Ridley Sea Turtle
Reserves and landscapes where our photographers reliably encounter this species, with links to place-specific guides.
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When and Where to Photograph Olive Ridley Sea Turtle
Arribada viewing at Gahirmatha requires forest department permits and is best arranged through a local operator; nesting typically peaks on moonlit nights. Bhitarkanika's beaches offer a calmer, more accessible alternative to see individual nesting females.
Plan field days around Jan–Mar: light is often strongest at dawn and dusk, when many mammals and birds are most active. Work with a naturalist who knows local movement patterns — they will position you ethically while improving your odds of a encounter in Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary.