Budget Proposal on ‘Turtle Trails’ Raises Conservation Concerns

The Union Budget’s proposal to develop ‘turtle trails’ along key Olive Ridley nesting sites in the coastal areas of Odisha, Karnataka and Kerala has triggered strong scepticism among conservationists and marine researchers, who warn that such initiatives could threaten fragile nesting ecosystems.

Experts argue that mass nesting (arribada) of endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles is an extremely sensitive natural phenomenon that requires minimal human disturbance. They caution that permitting ecotourism through turtle trails could increase anthropogenic pressure, disrupt tranquility, and alter the environmental conditions essential for successful nesting.

According to researchers, artificial lighting and human movement are major threats, as turtles are highly sensitive to light and can easily get disoriented during nesting. Any infrastructure or tourism activity, they say, risks disturbing the nesting cycle and hatchling survival.

Mass nesting of Olive Ridley turtles is a rare global phenomenon, recorded only at a few beaches worldwide, notably in India and Costa Rica. Odisha holds special ecological significance as it is home to the world’s largest mass nesting grounds for the species.

The state has two major arribada sites:

• Gahirmatha beach in Kendrapara district
• Rushikulya river mouth in Ganjam district

Access to Gahirmatha is already highly restricted, as it lies close to the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, India’s missile testing centre, and is closed to outsiders to ensure security as well as ecological protection.

Conservationists have urged the government to reconsider ecotourism-driven interventions at mass nesting beaches and instead prioritise strict protection, scientific monitoring and low-impact conservation measures to safeguard one of the world’s most vulnerable marine species.

Source: TH