The mating season of Olive Ridley turtles has begun near Rushikulya river mouth in Odisha's Ganjam district, as the administration increased patrolling to keep away poachers, an official said.

Berhampur Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Sunny Khokkar said that many pairs of turtles were seen in the area, and mating might pick up in the last week of December.