GPS fitted turtles enter Bangladesh after being released from Sunderbans
- At least three of the ten individuals of the critically endangered Northern River Terrapin ( Batagur baska) who were installed with GPS transmitters have travelled hundreds of kilometres and are now in Bangladesh.
- The objective of fitting GPS transmitters was to ascertain the habitat, breeding pattern and the movement of the species.
Northern River Terrapin ( Batagur baska)
- It is a species of riverine turtle.
- Its status is critically endangered in IUCN red list
- It is one of the largest freshwater and brackish turtle of Asia
- Distribution: Found in Bangladesh (The Sundarbans and in captivity in Vawal National Park at Gazipur), Cambodia, India (parts- West Bengal & Orissa), Indonesia & Malaysia and * It is regionally extinct in Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand & Vietnam.
- Habitat: Terrestrial & highly aquatic (freshwater & brackish);
- It lives in tidal areas of the estuaries of medium and large rivers and also in mangrove habitat.
Other endangered species of Riverine turtles found in India
- Assam Roofed Turtle (Pangshura sylhetensis):
- It is a rare species of the turtle
- It is listed as endangered in India
- Habitat: Brahmaputra drainage in Assam.
- Indian Softshell Turtle (Nilssonia gangetica):
- It is also known as Ganges softshell turtle
- Habitat: in the rivers of the Ganges, Indus and Mahanadi.
- The species is considered sacred and also found in the temple ponds of Orissa.
- Red Crowned Roofed Turtle (Batagur kachuga):
- It is a freshwater species of turtle
- It is listed as critically endangered as only a few hundred remain in the wild.
- Habitat: The National Chambal Sanctuary is India's only protected riverine habitat for red crowned roofed turtles.
- Indian Eyed Turtle (Morenia petersi):
- Habitat: South Asia and found in northeastern India only
- It is classified as Vulnerable
Endangered Species of Sea turtles found in India
- Five species of sea turtles are known to inhabit Indian coastal waters and islands.
- These are Olive Ridley turtle,Green turtle,Hawksbill turtle,Leatherback turtle
Olive Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea)
- These are the smallest of all sea turtles found in the world
- Habitat: warm waters of the Indian Oceans.
- Gahirmatha coast of Odisha is the largest mass nesting site for the olive ridley sea turtles in India.
- The species is listed as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List, Appendix 1 in CITES, and Schedule 1 in Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)
- It is the largest of all living turtles in the world
- Habitat: Nicobar Islands
Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
- It is a large sea turtle also found in the Indian Ocean and throughout the entire Pacific region.
Hawksbill Sea Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
- It is listed as critically endangered sea turtle
- Habitat: tropical reefs of the Indian oceans.