TURNING TURTLE

Once a jewel of the Ganga, the large riverine turtle clings to life in a shrinking sanctuary

- SHAILENDRA SINGH AND PAWAN PAREEK

Jewel of the Ganga. That is how the red-crowned roofed turtle (Batagur kachuga) is often described due to its striking colouration, especially the brilliant hues displayed by males just before winter. Their heads flare with red, yellow, white and blue stripes; the crown glows a vivid red, giving the species its name.

The turtle is one of the three large freshwater species in the genus Batagur found in India. All are listed as Critically Endangered in the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN'S) Red List, and protected under Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 as well as Appendix 1 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).