Prelims (GS I) – Current events of national and international importance| General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change.
Mains (GS I) – Conservation
Why in news?
After 30 years, 20 critically endangered red-crowned roofed turtles were reintroduced to the Ganga under Namami Gange Mission.
- The red-crowned roofed turtle is a freshwater turtle species.
- Distribution – It is native to India, Bangladesh and Nepal.
- The species was widespread in the Ganga River, both in India and Bangladesh and it also occurs in the Brahmaputra basin.
- Substantial population of the species are found only in the National Chambal River Gharial Sanctuary.
- Appearance – The shells of these turtles can be as long as 56 cm and can weigh up to 25 kg.
- The males are shorter and reach only half the length of females.
- Habitat – Found in deep flowing rivers with terrestrial nesting sites.
- Diet – Exclusively of water plants.
- Threats – The turtles are at a high risk of extinction.
- Habitat loss due to pollution and hydrological projects specific in the Gangal lowlands of northern India and Bangladesh.
- Overharvesting the animal for illegal consumption and
- Illegal international trade.
- Conservation
- IUCN - Critically Endangered
- IWPA – Schedule I
- CITES – currently Appendix II (India proposed to move it to Appendix II)
Decline of Red-crowned Roofed turtle
- The species were last documented in Ganga River by Rao in 1993.
- No viable populations of the species turtle found in entire Ganga system in last three decades.
Reintroduction Program
- 20 turtles were released into Haiderpur Wetland from Garhaita Turtle Conservation Center (National Chambal Sanctuary, UP).
- All turtles tagged with sonic devices for monitoring.
- The turtles were divided into two groups for Effective survival of the turtles,
- One group was released above the barrage of Haiderpur Wetland.
- While the other was released downstream in the main channel of the Ganga.
Haiderpur Wetland, located in western Uttar Pradesh, India, was designated as a Ramsar site in April 2021.
References
- WII| Red Crowned Roofed Turtle
- Hindustan Times| Red-crowned roofed turtles return to Ganga
