Awareness Campaign Conducted on World Turtle Day, with Turtle Survival Alliance Foundation India

GUWAHATI: A day-long awareness event was organized in the Assam State Zoo-cum -Botanical Garden on Tuesday to mark World Turtle Day 2023 on Tuesday along with the Turtle Survival Alliance Foundation India.

Director of Assam State Zoo, Dr. Ashwini Kumar, was the chief guest of the event, while Prof. Saibal Sengupta of Assam Don Bosco University attended as the guest of honour. A 'Walk for Turtles' trek, an interactive session titled 'Turtle talk' and a signature campaign in support of turtle conservation in Assam were organised.

A group of participants were taken for a walk along the Zoo's nature trail within Hengrabari Reserve Forest and given important information on turtle diversity and conservation efforts, followed by an indoor event to discuss the importance and plight of turtles. The programme was attended by more than 300 guests from all walks of life, including students from various educational institutions.

The Brahmaputra plains are a hotspot with 70% of India's freshwater turtle and tortoise diversity and are considered one of the turtle priority areas around the world. TSA India has been partnering with the Assam State Zoo and Assam Forest Department since 2018 to protect an endangered turtle species called the Black Softshell Turtle (Nilssonia nigricans) and the Assam Roofed Turtle (Pangshura sylhetensis) in the country.

Dr. Ashwini Kumar, the Director of Assam State Zoo, said that the Assam State Zoo is committed to helping and protecting certain species through a multipartite MoU that we signed with TSA and partners in 2021. Under the MoU, the Zoo, with the support of TSA India, has achieved important conservation milestones such as new turtle head-starting facilities and a comprehensive health assessment of temple turtles. Prof. Sengupta said that turtles are an important indicator of the environment they live in, and there is an urgent need to conserve the various regional species through active participation.

Sushmita Kar, Project Biologist of TSA India, said that with large footfalls, the Assam State Zoo is the best platform to spread awareness as it proudly displays 11 species of turtles and tortoises and has been our long-term partner for recovering and repatriating certain endangered species.

The information and awareness stall displayed the turtle motif gamusas from TSAI's alternative livelihood project in Biswanath Ghat. These turtle-printed gamusas were hand woven by women groups called 'Kaso Sakhi', who belong to key fishing villages, in order to raise their economies and find a balance between conservation and livelihood practises.

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