Odisha’s Minister for Forest, Environment & Climate Change, Labour & ESI, Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia, released the first-year report of a three-year research initiative led by the Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII).
The research brought together satellite telemetry, boat-based surveys and shoreline analysis to understand how Olive Ridley turtles used Odisha’s coastal waters and nesting habitats.
The research was undertaken in partnership with the Odisha Wildlife Organisation, Department of Forest, Environment & Climate Change, Dhamra Port Co. Ltd. (DPCL), a part of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ), India’s largest integrated ports and logistics company, and the Adani Foundation to better understand Olive Ridley movements and nesting along the Odisha coast.
Dr Abhishek Lakhtakia, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Adani Foundation, attended the event on behalf of the social welfare and development arm of the Adani Group.
Odisha hosts some of the world’s most important Olive Ridley nesting sites, including Gahirmatha in Kendrapara district and Rushikulya in Ganjam district, where mass nesting takes place. Protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, the species receives the highest level of legal protection in India. The initial fieldwork focused on the Gahirmatha rookery, with satellite tagging at both Gahirmatha and Rushikulya. APSEZ operates Dhamra and Gopalpur ports in Odisha.
Dr R. Suresh Kumar, Senior Scientist, Department of Endangered Species Management, WII, said, “This study marks the renewal of satellite tracking of Olive Ridley turtles in Odisha after nearly 15 years. The partnership with the Odisha Forest Department, Dhamra Port and Adani Foundation has enabled us to generate new insights into the movement patterns and habitat use of these turtles. The findings provide a scientific foundation for evidence-based conservation planning. We will continue tracking more turtles to build a stronger dataset that can support management strategies and long-term conservation.”
Dr Priti G Adani, Chairperson, Adani Foundation, said, “The Olive Ridley is an important part of Odisha’s natural heritage and protecting it requires a deeper understanding of its journey. We are pleased to support WII’s scientific work and contribute to conservation. The focus of the Odisha government, under the leadership of Honourable Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi, on sustainability and environmental conservation provides a strong foundation for such pioneering work, and we are pleased to contribute to this effort.”
The telemetry findings showed distinct movement patterns between male and female Olive Ridleys. Male turtles began their offshore migration earlier, while females remained in nearshore waters for longer periods. The data also pointed to possible foraging stopovers along the continental shelf and across the Bay of Bengal.
One female turtle travelled 6,719 km over 271 days, reaching waters east of Sri Lanka. Another travelled nearly 200 km from Gahirmatha to Rushikulya and back, highlighting the extent to which Olive Ridleys moved between different parts of Odisha’s coastline.
Boat-based surveys during the 2025-26 nesting season recorded 1,390 individual turtles and 67 mating pairs. Most sightings were recorded within two kilometres of the coastline. The report called for sustained monitoring to better understand how these movement and habitat-use patterns could influence the conservation of nesting habitats.
The research added to the broader conservation work being undertaken by the Adani Foundation in Odisha and complemented the Adani Group’s wider focus on environmental sustainability. The Group participated in Climate Week New York from September 20-27, 2026, contributing to global discussions on climate action and the transition to a more sustainable energy future.
The Adani Foundation has been working in Odisha for nearly a decade, with its programmes reaching 283 villages across seven districts. Its work spans education and scholarships, healthcare through wellness centres, mobile medical units and specialised health camps, as well as livelihood programmes supporting farmers, women and young people. The Foundation has also supported community infrastructure through roads, drinking water, sanitation and rural electrification initiatives.
