Red-crowned roofed turtle (Batagur kachuga)

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

1. WII| Red Crowned Roofed Turtle
2. Hindustan Times| Red-crowned roofed turtles return to Ganga