INDIAN ROOFED TURTLES

Sept. 4, 2018

By installing an idol of Vishnu in his Kurma (turtle) avatar in the Lota Devi temple pond (in West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri district), temple authorities have reduced pollution caused by devotees which was threatening the population of Indian Roofed Turtles.

About:

Scientific Name: Pangshura tecta.
Physical description: As the name suggest, they have ‘roof’ like shape on the top of their shell which is their distinct feature.
Range Description: It is found in the major rivers of South Asian countries (Ganges, Brahmaputra and Indus River drainages) in the Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Nepal.
IUCN Status: Least Concern.
Conservation Actions: Listed on CITES Appendix I.
Sharma said there were about 20 Indian Roofed Turtle in the pond. Following the conservation efforts, new turtle hatchlings were recently spotted in it.