Indian Softshell/Gangetic Softshell Turtles

News: Police rescued 16 Indian Softshell turtles from a smuggler in Jharcha, Greater Noida, during a routine check, exposing illegal wildlife trade.

About Indian Softshell/Gangetic Softshell Turtles

• The Indian softshell turtle (Nilssonia gangetica) is a freshwater turtle species found in South Asia.
• Habitat: It lives in rivers, canals, ponds, and freshwater systems.
• Distribution: The species is found in major river basins such as the Indus, Ganga and Mahanadi, along with their tributaries and intervening drainages.
• Geographical range: It occurs across India (including Assam, Bihar,, Jammu & Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal), and is also found in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, southern Nepal and Pakistan.
• Characteristics
  • Carapace structure: It has a large soft shell with eight pairs of costal plates and well-developed plastral callosities.
  • Appearance: The body is olive above with yellowish lower parts and distinct black streaks on the head.
  • Size: It can reach a carapace length of up to 94 cm.
  • Diet: It feeds mainly on fish, amphibians, carrion, other animal matter, and also consumes aquatic plants.
  • Breeding: It breeds during August and November.
    • Nests are located in islands and clayey river banks.
• Ecological role: They are predatory scavengers that help maintain water quality by consuming organic waste and carrion.
• Cultural significance: It is considered sacred and is often maintained in temple ponds in Odisha.
• Threats
  • Habitat degradation through hydrologic alteration
  • Accidental drowning in fishing nets
  • Poaching
  • Illegal trade
  • Sand mining
• Conservation Status
  • IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
  • CITES: The species is listed under Appendix I.
  • Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: The species is placed under Schedule I (Part II), which provides it the highest level of legal protection in India.