On World Wildlife Day, softshell turtles get new enclosure in Guwahati Zoo

Guwahati: A dedicated nursery enclosure for black soft shell turtle hatching was inaugurated today at the Assam State Zoo-cum-Botanical Garden.

Earlier, the endangered species had been transferred to the zoo from Nagshankar Temple, Biswanath Chariali, and Hayagriv Madhu Temple, Hajo in separate incidents in the last few months.

This dedicated facility has been jointly developed by Assam State Zoo and Turtle Survival Alliance India and falls under the Black Soft Shell Turtle Vision Plan 2030 which was launched last year. It is being implemented with the joint efforts of Assam Forest Department, Deputy Commissioner, Kamrup (Rural), Nagshankar Temple Committee, Hayagriv Madhu Temple Committee, Help Earth, and Turtle Survival Alliance India.

The Assam State Zoo provided an existing area that was developed by the Turtle Survival Alliance, India as a nursery for keeping baby turtles. Dr. Kumar appreciated the support and efforts of the TSA India team in this development.

Dr. Shelindar Singh, Director, TSA India, informed that as part of TSA’s long-term breeding and rehabilitation efforts for the species, I was prepared to help, which was less likely than before to survive in the temple pools. ”

Singh of the Turtle Survival Alliance has actually been shortlisted for the Whitley Awards 2022, which has brought back the black soft-shelled tortoise from Assam. In 2021, Nagaland protectionist Y Nuklu Phom won the prestigious Whitley Awards 2021, along with six other awards from South Africa, Argentina, Brazil and Kenya.

For nearly a decade, the TSA India team has been working with Nagshankar and other temples in the region to manage and maintain their temple ponds and their turtle populations.