Kaziranga: Officials of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR) recorded a total of 945 freshwater turtles belonging to seven species along the Brahmaputra River during a recent survey, a park spokesperson said on Tuesday. The fifth annual aquatic reptile survey was conducted from January 14 to 18 by KNPTR authorities in collaboration with the India Turtle Conservation Programme (ITCP). The survey teams focused on documenting freshwater turtles and tortoises across the Kaziranga landscape.
Officials noted that Kaziranga alone is home to 17 of India’s 32 freshwater turtle and tortoise species, underlining the park’s importance as a key conservation area. As part of the rapid boat survey, teams covered a 174-kilometre stretch of the Brahmaputra River flowing through the reserve. During the survey, 876 hardshell turtles and 69 softshell turtles were recorded. The teams made 55 direct sightings of hardshell turtles and 13 sightings of softshell turtles, including four sightings of the critically endangered Black Softshell Turtle.
The Black Softshell Turtle, which is endemic to the Brahmaputra basin, faces serious threats from habitat degradation, predation, and overexploitation. Officials said ongoing conservation initiatives in Kaziranga National Park and at the Nagshankar Temple in Biswanath district offer renewed hope for the species’ survival. Apart from reptiles, the survey teams documented 92 bird species and also spotted smooth-coated otters, Gangetic river dolphins, and Kaziranga’s iconic ‘big five’ megafauna — the tiger, greater one-horned rhinoceros, elephant, swamp deer, and wild water buffalo.
The study identified five priority habitats for conservation based on species diversity, habitat quality, and the extent of human disturbance. Officials stated that KNPTR authorities, with continued support from ITCP, will intensify efforts to protect the river’s ecological integrity and adapt conservation strategies to the evolving riverine landscape. The Brahmaputra River is recognised as one of the richest biodiversity zones in the region and is considered a global freshwater biodiversity hotspot as well as a Turtle Priority Area by conservationists.
