River terrapin: 50 to 300 in 10 years
The number of river terrapins was hardly 50 more than a decade ago and conservationists were worried the freshwater turtle would soon join the list of extinct animals.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) termed it “critically endangered”.
A breeding programme was started in the Sunderbans to increase their numbers. Today, there are 300 river terrapins and the forest department plans to release some of them in the waters of Sunderbans this year as part of its programme to save the animal and increase their population.
“The number of river terrapins had dipped and they were rarely seen. Around 2002, some fishermen in the Sunderbans rescued few terrapins,” Nilanjan Mallick, field director, Sunderban Tiger Reserve, said.
The breeding has been done in several places inside the reserve. “We now have 300 of them in our breeding centres,” Mallick said.
The Bengal forest department has undertaken the conservation and breeding programme with help from Turtle Survival Alliance, a global organisation that works for captive management of freshwater turtles and tortoises.
Click the link to read more…
CITES News
Five turtle species are up for “promotions” to CITES Appendix I from Appendix II.
Cuora bourreti
Cuora picturata
Geochelone elegans
Malacochersus tornieri
Mauremys annamensis
The complete list is here
Turtle News From Around the World
Conservation
USA:- Naval Station Mayport installs sea turtle-friendly lighting
Australia:- Nesting turtle tagged for first time on Queensland’s Bribie island
Australia:p- Turtle nesting under microscope in island expedition
Education
USA:- Lecture – The Young and the Restless: Tracking the sea turtle lost years, Feb 28
Health & Medical
USA:- Local sea turtle injured by shark returns to the ocean (Video)
Miscellany
Cayman Island:- Diver has magical encounter with critically endangered sea turtle (Video)
Question or Concerns? Want to submit an article to get posted? Email us at [email protected].
Photo from Shailendra Singh/TSA India.
