Red-Crowned roofed turtle returns to Ganga after 3 decades

The critically endangered Red-Crowned Roofed Turtle has been reintroduced in the Ganga river as part of the government's flagship programme of cleaning the river and enhancing its biodiversity.  This remarkable feat, driven by the Namami Gange Mission, signals a new era of hope for the restoration of the Ganga’s ecosystem and its rich biodiversity. In a post on X on Wednesday, Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Paatil said, 20 such turtles were released in Uttar Pradesh's Haiderpur Wetland On April 26. The turtles, nurtured at the Garhaita Turtle Conservation Center under the supervision of the National Chambal Sanctuary, were equipped with sonic tags to monitor their movements and ensure their safety.

माननीय प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi सर के नेतृत्व में चल रहे नमामि गंगे मिशन के तहत गंगा नदी में तीन दशक बाद रेड-क्राउन रूफ्ड टर्टल प्रजाति की वापसी संभव हो पाई है। यह वही प्रजाति है, जिसे उत्तर भारत की सबसे संकटग्रस्त प्रजातियों में गिना जाता था।

26 अप्रैल, 2025 को हैदरपुर… pic.twitter.com/HUc7lkuwr3

— C R Paatil (@CRPaatil) April 30, 2025

The Ganga, a lifeline of Indian civilization, has long been a sanctuary for diverse species, including endangered turtles. However, the Red-Crowned Roofed Turtle, once native to these waters, had vanished from the river’s main channel due to population decline. Studies conducted as recently as 2020 and 2022 by the Namami Gange-supported TSAFI project team revealed no viable populations of this critically endangered species in the Ganga, with only sporadic sightings reported decades ago.The return of the Red-Crowned Roofed Turtle is not just a victory for one species but a testament to the transformative impact of the Namami Gange Mission. Launched to clean and rejuvenate the Ganga, the mission has evolved into a powerful force for biodiversity conservation. By uniting stakeholders, including conservationists, government bodies, and local communities, the initiative has overcome significant challenges to restore the river’s ecological health.