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Injured Turtle's Epic 3,500km Sea Odyssey!
9 May
Summary
- An injured turtle traveled 3,500km across the Arabian Sea.
- The turtle journeyed nearly to the coast of Oman before returning.
- Satellite tracking reveals the remarkable rehabilitation success.
An Olive Ridley turtle, named Dhaval Lakshmi, has completed a remarkable 3,500km journey across the Arabian Sea, traveling from India to waters near Oman and back. Released on November 20, 2025, after three months of rehabilitation for injuries sustained on Dhakati Beach, she is the only one among eight tagged turtles to take such an extensive deep-sea route.
Initially staying near the coast, Dhaval Lakshmi ventured west, reaching waters 200km from Dahanu by Christmas 2025. By mid-January 2026, she was over 700km away, and by early February, she was closer to Oman than Mumbai, detected just 160km off Masirah Island by February 26, 2026. Researchers were keen to see if she would migrate to the Omani continental shelf.
However, Dhaval Lakshmi made a U-turn, navigating the middle of the Arabian Sea before heading northeast towards the Indian coast. This journey, tracked via a satellite transmitter, provides invaluable data on Olive Ridley movements, a species vulnerable to boat and fishing net injuries. While other tagged turtles in Maharashtra mostly traveled south, some reached Lakshadweep or Sri Lanka.
Dhaval Lakshmi's current tracks indicate she is heading towards the Maharashtra coast. While she is unlikely to nest soon due to the season, she may move south along the continental shelf, potentially influenced by the Malabar upwelling current. Her journey serves as a testament to successful conservation and rehabilitation efforts.
