7 months ago
Chennai Vets Rescue and Release Olive Ridley Turtle
A team of veterinarians in Chennai helped an Olive Ridley turtle that had a fishing hook stuck in its mouth.
They performed surgery to remove the hook and then released the turtle back into the sea.
The turtle was also fitted with a satellite tag to help researchers study its movements.
This is part of ongoing efforts to protect Olive Ridley turtles, which are in danger because of fishing nets and other threats.
In Maharashtra, many turtles are nesting, and some have returned to the same beaches to lay eggs, showing that conservation efforts are working.
A veterinary team in Chennai successfully removed a fishing hook from an Olive Ridley turtle's mouth.
The turtle was released back into the Bay of Bengal after recovery and fitted with a satellite tag.
Olive Ridley turtles are listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN due to threats like fishing gear and habitat loss.
In Maharashtra, 407 nests have been recorded so far during the nesting season, with some turtles returning to the same nesting sites.
Conservation efforts, including community involvement and safer fishing practices, are helping to increase the Olive Ridley population.
- Who
- Veterinary team from Arignar Anna Zoological Park, BMAD, and Tamil Nadu Forest Department
- What
- Rescue and release of an injured Olive Ridley turtle
- Where
- Chennai, India
- When
- January 2026
- Why
- To remove a fishing hook and ensure the turtle's safe return to the sea
Key facts
- Species
- Olive Ridley Turtle
- Location
- Chennai, India
- Injury
- Fishing hook lodged in mouth
- Rescue Team
- Arignar Anna Zoological Park, BMAD, Tamil Nadu Forest Department
- Conservation Status
- Vulnerable (IUCN Red List)
- Satellite Tagging
- Yes, for migration tracking
- Nesting Season
- November to March
- Nests Recorded (Maharashtra)
- 407
Quotes
Kanchan Pawar
Deputy Forest Officer, Mangrove South Konkan, Maharashtra Forest Department
“Of the total turtles which came to nest, we have noted that four Olive Ridley turtles were bearing flipper tags from last year’s exercise, indicating that they had returned to nest at the same site for another season. Such re-nesting and recapture records are scientifically important as well as for long-term conservation, as they enable researchers to estimate population size, remigration intervals, nesting frequency and habitat fidelity. In 2025, we had flipper tagged a total of nearly 62 female Olive Ridley turtles across the coastal districts.”
indianexpress.com
“The return of the previously flipper tagged turtles at the same nesting site demonstrates a strong nesting site fidelity in the west coast. This is a significant finding which also highlights the success of the ongoing sea turtle conservation efforts along our coasts.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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