Rushikulya Beach is located on the Bay of Bengal in Ganjam, Odisha. It is one of the most prominent places for Olive Ridley mass nesting, where female turtles arrive on the beach to make their nests and lay their eggs. The breeding period for turtles is from November to May, during which they mate, nest, and hatch. Olive Ridley turtles usually nest at night. The Odisha Government and the Rushikulya Sea Turtle Protection Committee have taken several steps to protect these turtles during the nesting season. Rushikulya Beach is also a popular picnic spot near Berhampur, Odisha.
Odisha is the largest mass nesting site for Olive ridge turtles in the world. These turtles migrate across the South Pacific Ocean to breed on the coast of Rushikulya and Gahirmath. During the mass nesting season, millions of Olive Ridley turtles visit the beach yearly. Rushikulya Beach is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Berhampur, Ganjam.
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- Turtles arrive in January and continue till April and February to March (peak mass nesting period).
- Fishing is restricted during the nesting season to prevent accidental turtle deaths.
- An artificial hatchery has been set up to protect the eggs from poachers.
- For its security, a 24-hour Odisha forest department guard has been deployed.
- Tourists are not allowed to come here during nesting season.
- Rushikulya has become a crucial turtle conservation zone and attracts scientists, conservationists, and eco-tourists every year.
- An Olive Ridley Turtles Mass Nesting Monitoring Centre has been built in Gokharkuda for turtle conservation.
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