Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

THREATENING OF OLIVE RIDLEY SEA TURTLE LEPIDOCHELYS OLIVACEA (ESCHSCHOLTZ, 1829) NESTING GROUND AND ITS POPULATIONS IN KOLAVIPALAM BEACH, NORTH KERALA, INDIA

S. Thirumalaiselvan, V. Kripa, P.K. Asokan, Suresh Babu, Vijayan4, L.L. Edward and A. Anasukoya

Abstract

A study was carried out to explore the status of threatening olive ridley turtle nesting ground and turtle populations in the Kolavipalam area which covers Tikkoti (11029’38.634’’ N and 75036’54.316’’ E) to Kottapuzha estuary (11034’12.151’’ N and 75035’26.754’’ E) of about 8 km, Kozhikode, Kerala, India during the year 1998-99 to 2015-16. Despite the sporadic nature of sea turtles, every individual of olive ridley sea turtle nests were monitored by Theeram volunteers in Kolavipalam region, North Kerala, India from the the last two decades. From that a total of 410 olive ridley sea turtle nests have been recorded. The maximum number of sea turtles nests of 65 nos. has been recorded during the year 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 continuously. The maximum and minimum percentage of hatchlings of 89.29%, 33% observed from the year 2002-03 and 2014-15 respectively. This study will provide the baseline data on medium term status of olive ridley turtles and their nesting populations in Kolavipalam beach, Kozhikode, India.