Tuesday, June 15, 2021
What is Operation Olivia?
Recently, Coast Guard has enforced laws and launched Operation Olivia to protect Olive Ridley Turtles in Odisha.
Operation Olivia
Operation Olivia was first launched by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) in the early 1980s. This operation helps protect the Olive Ridley turtles every year when they start nesting on the Odisha coast for breeding in the months of November to December. Under this, Coast Guard assets such as Fast Patrol Vessels, Interceptor Crafts, Air Cushion Vessels and Dornier Aircraft are monitored round the clock from November to May.
Current scenario of Operation Olivia
Between November 2020 and May 2021, the Coast Guard has dedicated 225 ship days and 388 aircraft hours. He has protected 3.49 lakh turtles.
Olive Ridley
Olive Ridley tortoises are listed as vulnerable under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Sea turtles found in India are included in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. They are also listed in Appendix I of the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) of Wild Fauna and Flora. Their collective nest is called Arribada. Gahirmatha, Astaranga Coast, Devi River estuary and Rushikulya are the 4 Arribada sites off the Odisha coast in India.