First Olive Ridley turtle satellite-tagged in Chennai for radio telemetry study

In a first-of-its-kind initiative, an Olive Ridley sea turtle that came ashore to nest on the city beach was satellite-tagged and released back into the sea early Thursday (January 8, 2026) morning as part of a radio telemetry study. 

The two-year study, scheduled to run from 2025 to 2027, aims to strengthen conservation efforts by using telemetry technology to monitor turtle behaviour, nesting patterns, and interactions with fishing activities.

According to a Government Order (G.O.) issued in August 2025 by Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary to the Departments of Environment, Climate Change, and Forests, the study will deploy satellite tags on 20 Olive Ridley turtles across key and vulnerable nesting sites in Tamil Nadu, including the Chennai coast and the Cauvery delta. 

The tags will enable researchers to track the turtles’ movements in near-shore waters during the nesting season from November to April. In addition to satellite tagging, flipper tags will be used to mark individual turtles for long-term monitoring of nest-site fidelity and migration patterns.

The study is being carried out jointly by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and the Advanced Institute for Wildlife Conservation, Vandalur (AIWC).

The turtle tagged on the day of the launch was a female that came ashore to nest at the Besant Nagar hatchery. Weighing approximately 40 kg, it appears to have nested for the first time and laid a large clutch of over 130 eggs. Based on observations, the turtle is estimated to be between 25 and 30 years old, according to officials.

Mapping routes

The telemetry study aims to generate data on Olive Ridley turtles’ migratory routes, foraging grounds, and nesting behaviour, which will help inform future conservation policies. It will also assist in identifying high-conservation-value zones where fishing activities may need to be regulated to reduce turtle bycatch, said Ms. Sahu. 

Ms. Sahu noted satellite data would be transmitted every hour, which will enable continuous tracking of the tagged turtle.