World Turtle Day 2022: On the Diminishing Turtle Population in India

To commemorate World Turtle Day, hundreds of hatchlings of the critically endangered red-crowned roofed turtle and three-striped roofed turtle were released in the lower Chambal river area.

The freshwater turtle population in India and across the globe has been diminishing at an alarming rate, prompting the Kolkata-based apparel brand to participate in the turtle conservation project at Chambal in Etawah, and take it up as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility endeavor.

Marine Turtles at Risk of Losing Their Population Due to Rise in Plastic Pollution
When turtles ingest plastic, they can suffer intestinal blockage that can result in malnutrition, reduced growth rates, lower reproductive output and even death.

‘A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA), an international conservation organization that works for saving fresh water turtles from extinction, and Turtle Ltd., a leading men's clothing brand.’

Tweet it Now

Saurabh Dewan, development researcher, TSA, said, "Chambal conservation project initiated in 2006, jointly with the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department is one of the flagship projects that is focused on two of the most threatened fresh-water turtles of the country — red-crowned roofed turtle and the three-striped roofed turtle, protecting around three hundred nests of the two species around Chambal every year."

Diminishing Freshwater Turtle Population

Dr. Arunima Singh, project officer, TSA India, added that "These nests are guarded in 24X7 manned river-side hatcheries, and the hatchlings are immediately released at the natal sites from where the nests are recorded, in a measure to minimize depredation of eggs and long-term population supplementation."

"We are committed to the cause of sustainability to people, planet, and society. We thus see this as an opportunity for us to give it back to the society and environment," Rupam Deb, brand manager of Turtle Ltd. said.

Link Connecting Turtles To Their Evolutionary Past Discovered In South Africa
The extinct reptile Eunotosaurus africanus , whose fossils were found is being touted by researchers as the earliest known branch of the turtle tree of life.

The TSA India Programme is managed by Indian conservation biologists, scientists, and researchers and seeks local solutions to saving turtles. TSA is carrying out conservation of turtles in five places across India: West Bengal, Terai and Chambal regions in Uttar Pradesh, Northeast India and South India.

Source-IANS

Turtles Began Living in Shells Much Earlier Than Once Thought
Among Earth's creatures, turtles are the only animals to form a shell on the outside of their bodies through a fusion of modified ribs, vertebrae and shoulder girdle bones.

Genome Analysis Uncovers the Origin of Turtles
The genome sequencing of the soft-shell turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis) and the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) has now been completed by researchers.