Overview

• An Olive Ridley turtle tagged at Odisha's Gahirmatha Beach in 2021 was confirmed nesting at Guhagar Beach in Maharashtra, completing a 3,500 km migration.
• This marks India's first documented cross-coastal migration of a flipper-tagged turtle, reshaping understanding of turtle population connectivity.
• The turtle laid 120 eggs, significantly exceeding the typical west coast average of 90–95 eggs, raising questions about reproductive patterns.
• The Maharashtra forest department has proposed satellite tagging and is considering a dedicated research center to study migratory species.
• Experts point to habitat destruction and human disturbances as potential drivers of altered migration patterns, urging stronger conservation policies.