240 Rare Black Softshell Turtles Released in Assam
A total of 240 baby Black Softshell Turtles were released into Roumari Beel wetland in Assam after being cared for by scientists and temple communities.
A wonderful conservation celebration took place in northeast India on 13 November 2026! Assam Minister for Environment and Forests Jayanta Malla Baruah announced that 240 baby Black Softshell Turtles were released into the wild. These tiny reptiles splashed safely into Roumari Beel, a protected freshwater wetland located under the Biswanath Wildlife Division in Assam.
For wildlife lovers across the country, this release of black softshell turtles in Assam is a reason to cheer. The Black Softshell Turtle, known scientifically as Nilssonia nigricans and called Bormuria Kaso locally, is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. This special event proves that caring hands can help bring a rare species back to its natural home.
What happened?
This big journey actually started several months earlier during the nesting season of March and April. The mother turtles laid their eggs on the grounds of the historic Nagshankar Temple pond. In the open, these fragile eggs faced danger from hungry predators like mongooses.
To keep them safe, dedicated wildlife experts from the Wildlife Survival Alliance Foundation India, also known as WSAFI, stepped in alongside teams from the Biswanath Wildlife Division, Kaziranga Tiger Reserve, and the Assam Forest Department. They carefully gathered the eggs and moved them to Biswanath Ghat.
At Biswanath Ghat, the eggs were placed inside artificial incubation chambers where both the temperature and moisture were strictly managed. The controlled conditions ensured that the developing embryos stayed healthy and warm throughout the season. Thanks to this gentle care, hundreds of little turtles hatched during July and August!
The newborn babies were then brought to a special rearing centre for about three months. There, caretakers fed them small fish every day so they could gain body weight and build up their strength. Once they were plump and energetic, the team knew they were ready to survive in the wild.
This exciting rewilding drive is part of a decade-long conservation project titled Conservation and Recovery of Black Softshell Turtle in Assam. Through this ongoing programme, WSAFI and Assam forest teams have released more than 1,000 Black Softshell Turtle hatchlings into natural wetlands since 2021! Each successful release helps restore balance to the local aquatic ecosystem.
Why does it matter to you?
You might wonder why saving a quiet, pond-dwelling turtle matters to young people across India. It matters because it shows how everyday cultural spaces and modern science can unite to protect living treasures. In the early 2000s, scientists were worried that this ancient freshwater turtle was completely extinct in the wild.
Fortunately, traditional temple ponds, including the sacred waters of Nagshankar Temple and Hayagriva Madhava Temple, served as life-saving sanctuaries. Local temple visitors and community guardians guarded the turtles with great devotion for generations. Their community-led protection kept the species alive when it had vanished almost everywhere else.
When scientists and forest guardians joined forces with these temple communities, they turned those protected ponds into nurseries for the wild. It reminds every student in India that protecting our planet does not always require high-tech laboratories. Simple kindness, respect for living creatures, and teamwork can rescue animals from disappearing forever.
Words to know
- Hatchling: A very young baby animal that has just popped out of its egg.
- Critically Endangered: A label given to plants or animals facing an extremely high danger of vanishing completely from our planet.
- Wetland: A soft, low-lying freshwater area, such as a marsh, swamp, or pond, where water covers the soil.
- Incubation: The careful process of keeping eggs at the right warmth and humidity so the babies inside can grow safely.
Did you know?
In the early 2000s, experts feared the Black Softshell Turtle was completely extinct in the wild! Sustained conservation efforts have now helped re-establish a stable population across the Brahmaputra-Kaziranga landscape.
Think about it
Why do you think temples and local communities were able to protect these rare turtles for so many years? What can students in your school do to protect small creatures living in nearby ponds or parks?
Quick quiz
Where were the 240 Black Softshell Turtle hatchlings released into the wild?
- Roumari Beel
- Nagshankar Temple pond
- Hayagriva Madhava Temple pond
See the answer
Roumari Beel
Sources
This story was prepared by the Kids Gazette news desk with the help of AI research and writing tools, using the sources listed above.
