On the occasion of World Turtle Day, Karan Adani, Managing Director of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), expressed pride in supporting the conservation of the vulnerable Olive Ridley sea turtles, whose population is thriving at Gahirmatha beach near Dhamra, Odisha.
The Olive Ridley turtles, listed as “vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List, have unique mass nesting behaviors and face increasing threats from human activity. APSEZ’s Dhamra Port, one of the world’s largest Olive Ridley nesting sites, plays a key role in their protection. Over 6.89 lakh turtles nested at Gahirmatha during the 2024–25 season.
To strengthen conservation efforts, Adani Group has set up a ₹30 crore corpus, funding multiple initiatives such as:
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Dark sky lighting to reduce sea glare and support turtle navigation
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Turtle migration support through trawlers for Forest Department patrols
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Safe navigation routes away from turtle congregation zones
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Fishing zone marking with buoys to protect sensitive areas
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Community engagement in collaboration with the Bhadrak Forest Division to educate local fishers
“We continue to safeguard these gentle marine creatures by working closely with local communities and wildlife authorities,” said Karan Adani, emphasizing APSEZ’s long-term commitment to marine biodiversity.
