Context: Recently, forest officials installed GPS transmitters on the northern river terrapin in the Indian Sundarbans. However, In just six weeks after the release, at least three of the 10 turtles of the critically endangered Batagur baska species have travelled hundreds of kilometres and are now in Bangladesh.

Northern River Terrapin

• It is a rare freshwater turtle native to Southeast Asia.
• It is one of Asia's largest freshwater and breakwater turtles.
• They are strongly aquatic but use terrestrial nesting sites, frequenting the tidal areas of estuaries, large rivers, and mangrove forests.

Physical Appearance

• Upper surface of its carapace and the soft parts are generally olive-brown, while the plastron is yellowish.
• Diet:
• Northern river terrapins have an omnivorous diet, taking waterside plants and small animals such as clams.

Distribution

• It is found in India and Bangladesh (Sundarbans), Myanmar, Malaysia (peninsular), Indonesia (Sumatra), Thailand, and Cambodia.
• It is regionally extinct in Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Conservation Status

• IUCN: Critically Endangered
• CITES: Appendix I
• Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972: Schedule I

By: Shubham Tiwari