Community-led turtle conservation in the Rivers Ganga and Ramganga, Uttar Pradesh, India

Authors

  • K.P. Dubey Uttar Pradesh Forest Department, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
  • Niraj Kumar Uttar Pradesh Forest Department, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
  • N.K. Janoo Uttar Pradesh Forest Department, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
  • Ganga Prasad Uttar Pradesh Forest Department, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
  • Aditi Sharma Uttar Pradesh Forest Department, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
  • Suresh Babu WWF-India, New Delhi, India
  • Nitin Kaushal WWF-India, New Delhi, India
  • Sanjeev Yadav WWF-India, New Delhi, India
  • Mohd Shahnawaz Khan WWF-India, New Delhi, India https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4467-3763

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17161/randa.v32i1.21505

Abstract

The Gangetic River System in Uttar Pradesh, India, supports 14 species of turtles. Excessive riverbed
farming has encroached on turtle habitat used for nesting and basking. To conserve threatened turtles in the Upper
Ganga, an in-situ turtle conservation program was initiated jointly by the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department and
WWF-India in 2012 to engage the community in turtle conservation. The local riparian community was sensitized
and mobilized to participate in conservation efforts. Turtles and the Ganga River have religious significance and are
honored by the local riparian community, which encourages active participation in conservation efforts. During the
study, 226 riparian community members have registered as Ganga Mitras (Friends of the River) and are involved in
monitoring and other conservation efforts. A total of 828 turtle nests were rescued from riverbed agriculture with the
help of 520 riverbed farmers in the Upper Ganga and Ramganga Rivers between 2012 and 2021. These nests contained
5,828 eggs, from which 4,529 turtles were hatched and survived (77.7% hatching success). These hatchlings were then
reared in specially designed nursery ponds during the flood season and released into their respective rivers in winter.
As poikilotherms, the food requirements of turtles are reduced during the winter season, making it easier for them to
acclimatize to the new environment. Released turtle hatchlings were 1,945 Critically Endangered Three-striped Roofed
Turtles (Batagur dhongoka), 1,292 Near-Threatened Brown Roofed Turtles (Pangshura smithii), and 1,480 Indian Tent
Turtles (Pangshura tentoria), which are listed as being of Least Concern.

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Published

2025-01-22

Issue

Section

Conservation in Action

How to Cite

Dubey, K., Kumar, N., Janoo, N., Prasad, G., Sharma, A., Babu, S. ., Kaushal, N., Yadav, S., & Khan, M. S. (2025). Community-led turtle conservation in the Rivers Ganga and Ramganga, Uttar Pradesh, India. Reptiles & Amphibians, 32(1), e21505. https://doi.org/10.17161/randa.v32i1.21505