Bhubaneswar: One of two GPS-tagged Olive Ridley sea turtles released by the forest department last month lost its tracking chip shortly after entering deep sea waters, officials said on Sunday.
The turtles were released on March 12 and 13 as part of a study on their migration patterns.
“Barely had it entered deep sea waters when the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) lost its location. However, in the case of the other turtle, we received a satellite map showing its movement,” said chief wildlife warden Prem Kumar Jha.
Both turtles, each weighing 35.5 kg, had nested before being tagged — one laying 107 eggs and the other 112 eggs, according to wildlife officials.