Shrine turtles (Nilssonia nigricans) seek attention

* Conservation organizations & NGOs can lend a helping hand

A CORRESPONDENT

NUMALIGARH: Since time immemorial, the temple and shrine ponds have been receiving turtles as donations from devotees; and these tanks are playing a crucial role in saving this species. The Black softshell turtle (Nilssonia nigricans) is one such species which was declared ‘Extinct in Wild’ by IUCN in 2012. However, it has been surviving in a few confined ponds of some shrines in Bangladesh and Assam. This species is endemic to the Brahmaputra river valley and its tributaries in Assam and Bangladesh. But the fact remains that here are very few sighting records of this species in the wild. Therefore, conservation of this species and restoring its wild population is need of the hour. In this aspect, the managing committees of temple ponds across Assam and Bangladesh can play a crucial role. Across Assam, ponds of the Kamakhya Temple, Hoigrib Madhav Temple and the Nagshankar Temple are having quite a number of the Black softshell turtle.

A group of undergraduate students of Zoology and Botany departments of DR College Golaghat under the supervision of Dr. Rajeev Basumatary are surveying various temple ponds in Golaghat district. The team is checking not only the presence and health of this turtle species but also the condition of four such ponds.

The pond in the premises of Sinatoli Namghar (Neo-Vaishnavite religious centre) has a good population of this critically endangered Black softshell turtle. Recently, a group of students who are also volunteers of National Service Scheme (NSS) of the Debraj Roy College unit went to the namghar and cleaned its premises and also prepared a nesting ground for the turtles. They also helped in constructing a floating basking substratum and a bamboo bridge so that the turtles can access the breeding ground. The nesting season of these turtles are going to begin from April and the hatchlings will come out in July. Ananta Saikia, secretary of the Sinatoli temple governing body, is playing a very crucial role in conserving the turtles in the pond. The organization members are also creating awareness among the public in the nearby areas. Further, they have been seeking technical advice from experts of the ‘Turtle Survival Alliance’ (TSA) India for conservation of these temple turtles.

The Sentinel also urges various conservation organizations and NGOs to lend a helping hand in conserving these amazing creatures of Mother Nature. We carried a report titled ‘Pathetic condition of turtles in temple ponds raises concern’ earlier also. Stakeholders are now coming out supporting the efforts for the conservation of these endangered turtles species.

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