The Dahanu forest division and the Mangrove Cell of the Maharashtra Forest Department, along with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), attached the satellite transmitter to a female Olive Ridley turtle in Palghar district of Maharashtra
Satellite tag on an Olive Ridley turtle. Pic/Mangrove Cell and Maharashtra Forest Department
In a first for the Dahanu coast, the Mangrove Cell has fitted a satellite tag on an Olive Ridley turtle to track its journey from the shoreline.
The project aims to gather important data on the species’ migration routes, foraging grounds, and population patterns along India’s western coast.
The Dahanu forest division and the Mangrove Cell of the Maharashtra Forest Department, along with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), attached the satellite transmitter to a female Olive Ridley turtle in Palghar district. The turtle was found entangled in a fishing net on August 10, 2025 and was rescued by local fishermen, who noticed injuries on both its front flippers. It was then taken to the Turtle Treatment Centre for care and recovery.
After receiving treatment, the turtle—named Dhaval Lakshmi—was fitted with a satellite tag and released into the sea with support from WII experts. This is the first Olive Ridley to be tagged in Palghar district and the eighth along the Maharashtra coastline. Three other Olive Ridley turtles with flipper tags were also released on Thursday.
Additional PCCF and Head of the Mangrove Cell, S. V. Ramarao told mid-day that the tagging would help officials understand movement and migration patterns from northern Maharashtra, where Olive Ridley nesting is only seen occasionally.
Until now, satellite tagging of Olive Ridley turtles in India has mainly been carried out on the east coast, making this the first such effort on the western shoreline.
The Mangrove Foundation and the forest department have tasked WII with conducting the study titled Tracking the Migratory Movements of Olive Ridley Sea Turtles off the Coast of Maharashtra. This second phase of research aims to study population distribution, movement, feeding areas and behaviour, with more such tagging projects planned in the future.
A female Olive Ridley lays 100 to 150 eggs at a time, and it takes 45 to 55 days for the eggs to hatch.
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