Can missile testing wipe out Olive Ridley Sea turtles?

India’s DRDO recently halted missile testing at Wheeler Island off the Odisha coast from January to March to conserve wildlife

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DRDO's decision will help create favorable conditions for the endangered Olive Ridley Sea turtles during their nesting season

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The mating of turtles begins in January, and the mass nesting happens in February along the Odisha coast

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About 6 lakh Olive Ridleys nest at the Rushikulya rookery in Odisha, a magnificence annual event

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The nesting site of Olive Ridley is near Wheeler Island, who is already endangered and highly sensitive in nature

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Missile testing, mechanized boats, and such activities disrupt the sea turtles' nesting and breeding, threatening their survival

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The flashes and sounds of missile distract the turtles, making them vulnerable to predators during nesting period

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They are hunted for their oil & flesh, while unhatched eggs and shells on the sand are exploited as fertilizers

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Army & Coast Guard will patrol the coast to prevent any disturbance along the coast where turtle eggs are laid

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Enforced fishing restrictions across the coast from November 1 to May 31, 2024

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