29 April,2026 09:03 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet Jadhav
Dhaval Lakshmi was released from the Dahanu coast in November 2025. FILE PIC/Mohan Upadhye
Five months after being released off Dahanu, satellite-tagged Olive Ridley turtle Dhaval Lakshmi has crossed the Arabian Sea and is now heading south, after earlier travelling towards Oman and turning back. The turtle, which briefly slowed in a productive zone last week, has resumed a Southeast movement and is currently around 800 km west of Ratnagiri, making her way towards India's continental shelf.
Dr Suresh Kumar, senior scientist from the Wildlife Institute of India, said that Dhaval Lakshmi has moved across the Northern Arabian Sea. At one point she moved close to Oman and, after circling around for a while, has now started to head southeast towards Maharashtra. "After briefly slowing in a productive zone last week, she has now resumed a southeast movement and is around 800 km west of Ratnagiri now."
Satellite tagged Dhaval Lakshmi. PIC/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
In earlier weeks, the satellite-tagged turtle has exhibited a change in its behaviour. Compared to the previous week, the turtle has slowed its pace, entering a phase likely indicative of foraging. In the first week of April, Dhaval Lakshmi was seen heading south. She travelled 250 km south and was 860 km west of Mumbai and 710 km east of Oman. She was then in the deeper waters of the Arabian Sea, with its depths reaching 388 m.
December 22, 2025: Moves west, enters Gujarat waters
December 29, 2025: 400 km from Dahanu, off Porbandar
January 5, 2026: Reaches deep Arabian Sea waters
February 2, 2026: 920 km west of Mumbai
February 5, 2026: 500 km from Oman, dives up to 250 m
February 11, 2026: 395 km from Oman
February 22, 2026: 190 km southeast of Masirah Island
March 9, 2026: 200 km off Oman
March 30, 2026: 860 km west of Mumbai & 710 km East of Oman
April 20, 2026: 800 km west of Ratnagiri, heading toward India's continental shelf
Species: Olive Ridley sea turtle
Name: Dhaval Laxmi
Rescued from: Fishing nets off the Maharashtra coast
Tracking agencies: Wildlife Institute of India, Mangrove Foundation, Dahanu forest division
Total distance covered: 2200 km
Straight-line distance: More than 1000 km
