Turtles in Trouble: The Most Threatened Sea Turtle Populations

Olive ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) (arribadas), Northeast Indian Ocean. Key nesting sites in India.Given the massive numbers of olive ridleys that nest in a few places in India each year, it might seem hard to believe that these olive ridleys are among the most endangered populations in the world. However, due to extremely intense pressures from trawl bycatch and consumption of turtle eggs and meat, the seemingly abundant ridleys have declined dramatically region-wide – both at mass nesting sites as well as beaches where turtles nest in smaller numbers. More recently, development of major shipping ports along the coast of India has become a major cause of concern for these populations.

Turtles in Trouble: 11 Most Threatened Sea Turtle Populations in the World Identified - Conservation International