Odisha’s Puri beach witnessed its first turtle festival on January 13, 2019.
Odisha has half of the world’s Olive Ridley turtle population and 90 per cent of India’s turtle population lives in the state.
Background
There are five sea turtle species in the Indian waters — Leatherback (Vulnerable), Loggerhead (Endangered), Hawksbill (Critically Endangered), Green (Endangered) and Olive Ridley.
In India, sea turtles are protected under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
Olive Ridley is recognized as Vulnerable by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red list..
International trade in these turtles and their products is banned under CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) Appendix I.