The return of endangered turtles in the Ganga

The red-crowned roofed turtle or batagur kachuga, which was almost on the verge of extinction in the Ganga river, has made a comeback after 30 years.

In April, 20 turtles were translocated from the Garheta Turtle Conservation Centre – located within and under the supervision of the National Chambal Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh – and released at the Haiderpur wetland, a Ramsar site located in the state, part of river Ganga.

In collaboration with Namami Gange – the Ganga conservation mission by the Indian government, the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department, and the India Turtle Conservation Program, the critically endangered red-crowned turtles have been released and these turtles have been tagged with sonic devices to monitor their safety and migration.

Rehabilitation

Red-crowned roofed turtles were once found in the Ganges river and its tributaries. But in the past 30 years, their numbers have decreased due to excessive hunting, illegal trade, loss of habitat and change in the flow of the river.

The turtle is endemic to India, Bangladesh and Nepal. It is also found in the Brahmaputra river region. Now, the only place in the country where a good number of these turtles are left is the National Chambal Sanctuary. And now, this area which is its natural home,...

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