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Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary

28th March, 2022 Environment

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Context: A record number of around 2,45,188 Olive Ridley sea turtles came ashore for mass nesting at the Nasi-1 and Nasi-2  islands of Gahirmatha marine sanctuary within Bhitarkanika National Park.

  • Nasi–1 and 2 islands of 5 km is an ideal nesting strip for the turtles because of no presence of predators and human habitation.
  • Rushikulya beachis one of the largest mass nesting sites for sea turtles
  • Lakhs of endangered turtles congregate for mass nesting along the Odisha coast including the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary, the Rushikulya river mouth and the Devi river mouth annually.

Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary

  • Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary is a marine wildlife sanctuary located in Odishaand is a very popular tourist attraction of Odisha in India.
  • It is the world's largest nesting beachfor Olive Ridley Turtles.
  • It extends from Dhamra River mouth in the north to Brahmani river mouth in the south.
  • It is very famous for its nesting beach for olive ridley sea turtles.

 

Bhitarkanika National Park

  • Bhitarkanika National Park is a large national park in Odisha in eastern India.
  • It was designated the status of a Ramsar siteon 19 August 2002.
  • The national park and wildlife sanctuary is inundated by the rivers Brahmani, Baitarani, Dhamra, Pathsala.
  • It hosts many mangrove species, and is the second largest mangrove ecosystem in India.

About Olive Ridley Turtle:

https://epaper.thehindu.com/Home/ShareArticle?OrgId=G1K9L3J0O.1&imageview=0