Orissa boasts of possessing the world's largest known rookery of Olive Ridley Sea Turtles. The spectacular site of mass congregation of Olive Ridley Sea Turtles for mating and nesting enthralls both the scientists and the Nature-lovers. This is a unique phenomenon, hardly seen anywhere in India.

That rarity of mass congregation and the cruelty meted outto these innocent marine creatures, paved the way for declaration of the stretch of water body from old light house to Maipura river-mouth as Gahirmatha (Marine) Wildlife Sanctuary.

Core area of the sanctuary consists of 725.50 sq km and the buffer zone accounts for 709.50 sq km The entire sanctuary area comes within the district of Kendrapara.
Olive Ridley Sea Turtles migrate in huge numbers from the beginning of November, every year, for mating and nesting along the coast of Gahirmatha. The annual nesting figures range from one hundred to five hundred thousand.

Since Gahirmatha coast serves as the natal nesting beach for millions of turtles, it has   immense importance on turtle conservation.