Indian National Chambal Sanctuary
Posted on: Wednesday, December 19th, 2007
Hatchling and head starting programme for endangered chelonians in the National Chambal Sanctuary, India. Implementation of recommendations from the Conservation Action Plan for India’s Freshwater Turtles
Harry V. Andrews, R K. Sharma1, D. Basu, Shilander Singh, Rajeev Chauhan and Ashutosh Tripathi
2Secretary General, Society for Conservation of Nature, 576, Karamganj,Punjabi Colony, Etawah - 206 001,Uttar Pradesh, India; raj_scon@yahoo.com
India has 28 species of turtles and tortoises and the Indotestudo travancorica, Aspideretes leithii and Geoemyda silvatica are endemic. Species richness and diversity is not only nationally significant but also globally. The ever-increasing human pressures is taking a heavy toll of turtle biomass and disrupted nesting and reproduction. Several species are still exploited and may become extinct while several others may reach critical endangerment and exist as relict populations.
During the October 2005 workshop for the Conservation and Action Plan for Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises of India and based IUCN Red List, 28 species was reviewed and ten species were considered for immediate conservation action: Batagur baska, Kachuga kachuga, Pelochelys cantorii, Aspideretes nigricans, Aspideretes leithii, Chitra indica, Kachuga dhongoka, Hardella thurjii, Manouria emys, and Pangshura sylhetensis.
By February 2006 the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, supported by TSA, EAZA-SellShock and Bachelors, in collaboration with the Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh Forest Departments started two in situ hatchery on an island in the National Chambal Sanctuary in UP. Currently the hatchery holds 247 K. dhongoka clutches, and 56 K. kachuga clutches. This is the first time in Asia that a freshwater turtle in situ programme is being attempted. In MP over 100 K. dhongoka are being protected and 24 K. kachuga nests were transferred to a hatchery. Considering the number of Kachuga kachuga clutches collected, indicates that this species is more than critically endangered and nesting population may be down to a few 100s.
Ongoing and planned activities include, Continued monitoring, continued target species nest protection and collection for in-situ and ex-situ hatcheries, release after hatching and head starting for post monsoon release, rearing of target species for the two year head starting programme, nest collection of Chitra indica and Hardella thurjii for head starting in both states. International conservation/field research Oral
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