India’s first satellite-tagged Ganges soft-shell turtle released in Kaziranga

admin — Fri, 15 May 2026 12:28:00 +0000

In a first in India, a satellite-tagged Ganges soft-shell turtle was released in the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve on the occasion of Endangered Species Day on Friday, May 15, 2026.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

India’s first satellite-tagged Ganges soft-shell turtle, an endangered species, was released in the 1,302 sq. km Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve in Assam on Friday (May 15, 2026).

The release of the freshwater reptile coincided with the observation of Endangered Species Day.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma termed the event a major step for wildlife conservation and a proud moment for the State, “as we continue to protect every species that calls our forests home”.

Assam is one of the world’s top priority areas in freshwater turtle conservation. Of the eight soft-shell turtles reported from India, five are known from the Kaziranga landscape.

The Ganges soft-shell turtle (Nilssonia gangetica), a Schedule I animal under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, can be differentiated from other riverine turtles by its distinct arrowhead-shaped markings on the top of the head. In India, the species inhabits large rivers, lakes, and reservoirs.

Recorded as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, this large turtle is a major river predator and helps clean up the system by feeding on dead and decaying animal matter.

Identifying critical habits

“Understanding seasonal movement patterns, home range, and identifying critical habits like nesting and breeding will help in active management of soft-shell in the Brahmaputra river basin,” Abhijit Das, a senior scientist at the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), said.

He led a team under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in the satellite-tagging exercise in collaboration with the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve authorities and the Assam Forest Department. The National Geographic Society funded the project.

Forest officials said a healthy adult turtle was captured, fitted with the transmitter under veterinary supervision, and released back into its natural habitat along the northern bank of the Brahmaputra.

Published – May 15, 2026 05:48 pm IST

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6 Rhinos Among 137 Animals Dead In Kaziranga National Park Amid Assam Floods

admin — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 01:13:14 +0000

Nagaon, Assam:

In the devastating Assam floods, 137 wild animals, including six Rhinos, have died in the Assam flood at Kaziranga National Park, officials said.

Meanwhile, the park authorities have managed to rescue 99 animals, including two Rhino calves, and two Elephant calves.

Sonali Ghosh, field director of Kaziranga National Park, said that 104 Hog Deer, 6 Rhinos, and 2 Sambar died after drowning in flood waters, while 2 Hog Deer died after a vehicle hit them, one Otter (pup) died due to other reasons, and 22 animals died under care.

“So far we have rescued 99 animals including two rhinos, two elephants, 84 Hog Deer, 3 Swamp Deer, 2 Samber,” Sonali Ghosh said.

70 forest camps out of 233 camps in the park are still underwater.

The flood situation in Assam has turned grim, with six more people dying in Assam floods Monday, bringing the total death toll to 72 as of July 8, 2024.

Over 27.74 lakh people in 28 districts are still affected by the flood in the state.

The flood affected districts are Goalpara, Nagaon, Nalbari, Kamrup, Morigaon, Dibrugarh, Sonitpur, Lakhimpur, South Salmara, Dhubri, Jorhat, Charaideo, Hojai, Karimganj, Sivasagar, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Dhemaji, Hailakandi, Golaghat, Darrang, Biswanath, Cachar, Kamrup (M), Tinsukia, Karbi Anglong, Chirang, Karbi Anglong West, Majuli.

Rescue teams of the NDRF, SDRF, Fire & Emergency Services, local administration, Indian army, and paramilitary forces are all engaged in rescue operations in different areas of the state.

The severe flood situation in Assam over the past month has resulted in the loss of life, extensive damage to infrastructure, road closures, crop destruction, and livestock loss. The deluge has also left hundreds of people homeless and unsettled.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Kaziranga National Park Assam – Artifex.News

India’s first satellite-tagged Ganges soft-shell turtle released in Kaziranga

Identifying critical habits

6 Rhinos Among 137 Animals Dead In Kaziranga National Park Amid Assam Floods