LOGGERHEAD TURTLE

GS3 ENVIRONMENT: 

Habitat

• Found in warm oceans around the world, including India’s coasts (Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat).

Diet

• They eat crustaceans, jellyfish, mollusks, and hard-shelled animals like crabs.

Nesting and Reproduction

• They nest on sandy beaches and return to the same place where they were born.
• A female lays 100-126 eggs at a time, and they hatch in 2 months.

Conservation Status

• IUCN Status: Vulnerable (at risk due to habitat loss, fishing nets, and poaching).
• In India, they are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

Threats

• Bycatch: They often get caught in fishing nets.
• Habitat loss: Beaches are being destroyed by development and pollution.
• Climate change: Warmer temperatures affect their nesting and hatchling sex ratio.

Conservation Efforts

• Protecting nesting sites, monitoring turtle migration, and educating people about conservation.
• Marine Turtle Conservation Program in India is focused on saving turtles.

Locations in India

• Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary (Odisha): One of India’s largest turtle nesting sites.
• Rushikulya Beach (Odisha) and Kurusadai Island (Tamil Nadu) are also important for turtle conservation.