Oline Ridley Turtle (ORT) ( UPSC Prelims)

News Context

Operation Olivia protected over 8-lakh Olive Ridley Turtles (ORT) on the Gahirmatha coast in Odisha.
 Habitat: These turtles thrive in the warm, tropical waters of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans.
 Characteristics:
      ○ They participate in a unique mass nesting event known as arribadas.
      ○ They are the smallest and most abundant among all sea turtles.
 Conservation:
  ● Operation Olivia was initiated in the 1980s by the Indian Coast Guard and is conducted annually from November to May.  
      ○ The operation primarily targets Gahirmatha Beach, the Rushikulya River Mouth, and the Devi River Mouth.