Satellite-tracked Olive Ridley turtle Dhaval Lakshmi spotted near Oman coast

Satellite tagged Dhaval Lakshmi. Pic/Mohan Upadhye

There is reassuring news for wildlife lovers tracking the journey of satellite-tagged Olive Ridley turtle Dhaval Lakshmi, especially amid the ongoing tensions in West Asia. Forest department officials told mid-day that the turtle's latest tracked location, as of March 4, remains near the coast of Oman, where it continues to move within the same region.

The turtle had earlier surprised scientists by crossing the Arabian Sea after being rescued from fishing nets off the Maharashtra coast. Tagged on November 20, 2025, Dhaval Lakshmi has since travelled thousands of kilometres, revealing an unexpected migration route.

According to officials, the Wildlife Institute of India, in collaboration with the Mangrove Foundation and Dahanu forest division, is closely monitoring the turtle's movement through satellite tracking.

Earlier patterns suggested Olive Ridley turtles from Maharashtra move southward along the coast. However, Dhaval Lakshmi's journey westward across the Arabian Sea toward Oman indicates that turtles from the region may be part of a wider Arabian Sea population.

"The turtle's latest tracked location is near Oman, where it continues to move within the same region while our team closely monitors its movements and activity," a forest department source said.

Dhaval Lakshmi's journey continues to offer valuable insights into the migration behaviour of Olive Ridley sea turtles.

Distance travelled

Total distance covered: 1800 km
Straight-line distance: More than 850 km

Key facts

Species:
Olive Ridley sea turtle

Name:
Dhaval Lakshmi

Rescued from:
Fishing nets off the Maharashtra coast

Tracking agencies:
Wildlife Institute of India, Mangrove Foundation, Dahanu Forest Division

Journey timeline

Dec 22, 2025
Moves west, enters Gujarat waters

Dec 29
400 km from Dahanu, off Porbandar

Jan 5
Reaches deep Arabian Sea waters

Feb 2
920 km west of Mumbai

Feb 5
500 km from Oman, dives up to 250 m

Feb 11
395 km from Oman

Feb 22
190 km southeast of Masirah Island

March 4
Roaming around the southeast of Masirah Island