Following a span of 30 years, 20 critically endangered Red-Crowned Roofed Turtles (Batagur kachuga) have been successfully reintroduced into the Ganga River as part of the Namami Gange Mission, representing a significant achievement in biodiversity conservation
Overview of Red-Crowned Roofed Turtles (Batagur kachuga):
Scientific Classification: Batagur kachuga
Geographical Distribution:
Countries: India, Nepal, Bangladesh
Rivers: Ganga, Brahmaputra (historical); Chambal (current viable habitat)
Conservation Status:
IUCN (Global): Critically Endangered
Indian Wildlife Act: Schedule I (Highest Protection)
CITES (International Trade): Appendix I (Banned)
Distinctive Characteristics:
Size: Females can reach lengths of up to 56 cm (approximately 2 feet) and weigh around 25 kg (55 lbs), while males are significantly smaller and lighter.
Shell: Their robust, ridged shell enables them to navigate strong currents, and juvenile turtles possess angled undersides (plastron) for added protection.
Snout: They feature a short, slightly pointed snout that facilitates breathing while remaining submerged.
Coloration: During the breeding season, males exhibit vibrant red, yellow, and blue markings on their necks to attract females.
Behavior and Habitat:
Habitat: They inhabit deep, swiftly flowing rivers and require sandy beaches or sandbars for egg-laying.
Diet: They are strict herbivores, consuming only aquatic vegetation and algae.
Reproductive Period: Mating and nesting occur between March and April, coinciding with warmer temperatures.
Egg Laying: Females excavate nests in the sand, laying between 11 to 30 eggs per clutch, which typically hatch after 60 to 70 days.
Challenges:
Habitat Degradation: Pollution, dam construction, and excessive water extraction threaten their riverine habitats.
Nesting Challenges: Sand mining and agricultural activities along riverbanks compromise nesting sites, leaving eggs vulnerable.
Poaching and Trade: Despite legal protections, they are hunted for their meat (considered a delicacy) and shells (used for decorative purposes).
Google has launched a Voluntary Exit Programme (VEP) and imposed new hybrid work policies
At the 40th CRIS Foundation Day, the Union's Railway Minister launched the RailOne App
A comprehensive tax and spending plan that is expected to raise the national debt by $3.3 trillion, approved by the US Senate
Terms "Socialist" and "Secular," has been reignited by recent remarks made by political figures in the ruling coalition
A decade of the Digital India Mission
Govt clears surge pricing up to 2X as new cab rules promise fairer rides and driver pay
Ex-Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina sentenced to six months in jail for contempt by war crimes tribunal
Hope fades families wait in agony as Telangana factory blast toll rises to 36
Trump signals imminent US-India trade pact with major tariff cuts
Quad slams Pahalgam terror strike, demands swift justice for victims
Google has launched a Voluntary Exit Programme (VEP) and imposed new hybrid work policies
At the 40th CRIS Foundation Day, the Union's Railway Minister launched the RailOne App
A comprehensive tax and spending plan that is expected to raise the national debt by $3.3 trillion, approved by the US Senate
Terms "Socialist" and "Secular," has been reignited by recent remarks made by political figures in the ruling coalition
A decade of the Digital India Mission
Govt clears surge pricing up to 2X as new cab rules promise fairer rides and driver pay
Ex-Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina sentenced to six months in jail for contempt by war crimes tribunal
Hope fades families wait in agony as Telangana factory blast toll rises to 36
Trump signals imminent US-India trade pact with major tariff cuts
Quad slams Pahalgam terror strike, demands swift justice for victims
Copyright© educationpost.in 2024 All Rights Reserved.
Designed and Developed by @Pyndertech