30/05/2025
After 30 years, lost species return home. The Red-Crowned Roofed Turtle is back in Ganga.
Once believed to be extinct for over three decades, 20 critically endangered Red-Crowned Roofed Turtles were reintroduced into the river on April 26, 2025 — a historic first step in restoring the river’s lost biodiversity.
Each turtle was tagged and gently released in the Haiderpur Wetland, a Ramsar site that connects to the river during monsoon. This soft release strategy will help scientists track and understand how best to help this ancient species thrive again.
“In India, Red-Crowned Roofed Turtles survive only in the Chambal River, with no evidence of their presence elsewhere in the world for the past 30 years.” — Arunima Singh, India Turtle Conservation Program reported HT.
This isn’t just about one species — it’s about healing an entire ecosystem.
[Red-Crowned Roofed Turtle, Batagur kachuga, Endangered turtle species, endangered turtles, endangered turtles]
