17 June,2026 09:37 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet Jadhav
Satellite-tagged Dhaval Lakshmi. Pic/Mohan Upadhye
After travelling from the Dahanu coast to Oman and returning to Indian waters, the satellite-tagged Olive Ridley turtle Dhaval Lakshmi has now reached Karnataka and is currently off the Karwar coast. Last week, she was around 150 km off the Goa-Karnataka border, a marine zone previously used by satellite-tagged turtles from Maharashtra.
An official from the Mangrove Cell of the Maharashtra Forest Department told mid-day that Dhaval Lakshmi is currently off the Karwar coast in Karnataka. "As of June 15, 2026, Dhaval Lakshmi continues to reside in waters off the Karwar coast. The turtle is currently about 130 km from Karwar and has remained in this area for the last 25 days".
"It is moving southward at a very slow pace, and it will be interesting to see how many more days it stays in these waters," officials said. After nearly six months of tracking, researchers observed on May 19 that Dhaval Lakshmi was moving from the Arabian Sea toward India's southwestern coast, following a route similar to that of turtles tagged in Maharashtra during 2022-23 and likely heading towards the nutrient-rich Malabar upwelling zone.
Along India's southwest coast (Kerala to Kanyakumari), strong winds push warm surface water away from the shore. Cold, nutrient-rich water from the deep ocean rushes up to fill the gap. This process is called the Malabar upwelling. Think of it as nature pumping fresh plant food to the sunlit surface, which creates a massive feeding ground for fish and keeps the local fishing industry alive.
Species: Olive Ridley sea turtle
Name: Dhaval Lakshmi
Rescued from: Fishing nets off the Maharashtra coast
Tracking agencies: Wildlife Institute of India, Mangrove Foundation, and Dahanu Forest Division
Total distance covered: Over 3500 km
Straight-line distance: More than 2500 km
