KENDRAPARA: An endangered freshwater Indian Peacock softshell turtle was rescued from the Brahmani river in Jayakunda village near Bhitarkanika National Park in Kendrapara on Wednesday.
The rare species got stuck in the nets of a fisherman Kailash Barik on the day who immediately informed the forest officials. “We rushed to the spot and released the turtle into the river. Kailash was also awarded Rs 10,000 for informing us about the turtle,” said Divisional Forest Officer of Bhitarkanika National Park JD Pati.
The Indian peacock softshell turtles (Nilssonia hurum) are found in rivers, streams, lakes and ponds of India, Bangladesh and Pakistan with mud or sand bottoms. The juvenile ones feed on mosquito larvae and fish, while the adults consume snails, earthworms, prawns, fish, frogs and carrion. The turtles are listed as ‘vulnerable’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and protected under schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
These turtles are hunted for their supposed aphrodisiac properties, livestock feed, leather-making, fishing bait, shell trade and to make potions from their blood. “This rare species is a scavenger and requires clear, medium or large rivers with sand to thrive. But now, its numbers are declining due to hunting and destruction of their habitat by foxes and wild dogs,” said secretary of Gahirmatha Marine Turtles and Mangrove Conservation Society Hemant Rout.