Humans to blame for 80% drop in three-striped roofed turtle numbers

New Delhi, April 26: The three-striped roofed turtle, once found in numbers in the Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers, has now largely disappeared with a government-funded study detecting an over 80 per cent drop in its population in half a century,

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largely due to habitat loss, illegal trade and pollution.

‘The study, supported by the National Mission for Clean Ganga, has revealed an alarmingly low genetic diversity in the rescued population of the freshwater reptile species, raising concerns over its long-term survival.

Underscoring the urgent need for science-backed conservation efforts, the study called for long-term genetic tracking, stricter enforcement against poaching, and efforts to restore the semi-aqautic turtle’s habitat, especially in its last stronghold ~ the National Chambal Sanctuary.

The sanctuary is located on the Chambal river near the tri-point of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.