Asola turtle pond to get major overhaul

A ₹11.06L TENDER WAS FLOATED TO EXPAND THE TURTLE POND, PLANT 500 TREES AND IMPROVE HABITAT AFTER BREEDING SURGE

- Jasjeev Gandhiok

The Delhi forest and wildlife department is set to revamp and expand its turtle pond at the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary in south Delhi after a rapid increase in the turtle population housed there since its creation in 2022.

Officials said a tender worth ₹11.06 lakh was floated on November 6 for renovation and maintenance works, including planting nearly 500 new trees, shrubs and hedges, monthly watering, removal of garden waste, and expanding the pond’s area to improve the habitat for turtles that have been breeding successfully at the site.

The pond was established in January 2022 as a temporary or “transit” camp to house trafficked, injured and rescued turtles. However, the numbers have grown significantly over the past two years, with more than 250 turtles currently thriving there.

These include four Indian species of both hard-shell and soft-shell varieties.