Sea turtles are called living fossils for they have been on the earth in their present form for over 150 million years. Of the five species of sea turtles found in the waters of the Indian subcontinent, which is the most populous species?

The Olive Ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) is the most populous sea turtle species in Indian waters. India hosts the world's largest mass nesting sites for this species at Odisha's Gahirmatha, Rushikulya, and Devi River mouths. Key themes include arribada (mass nesting), conservation status, and Indian Ocean marine biodiversity.