India’s First Satellite-Tagged Ganges Softshell Turtle Released In Kaziranga

In a major step for wildlife conservation, India’s first satellite-tagged Ganges softshell turtle was released into Kaziranga National Park on Friday, coinciding with Endangered Species Day.

Announcing the development, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma described the initiative as a landmark achievement in protecting endangered aquatic species and strengthening scientific conservation efforts in the state.

Wildlife researchers fitted the turtle with a lightweight satellite transmitter attached to its shell before releasing it into the wild. The device will transmit real-time location data through satellites, enabling scientists to monitor the reptile’s movement, habitat use and behavioural patterns without disturbing it in its natural environment.

Conservation experts said the satellite tagging would help researchers study migration routes, feeding grounds and breeding habitats of the species, while also identifying threats such as pollution, habitat degradation, poaching and accidental capture in fishing nets. The data collected is expected to support long-term conservation planning for freshwater turtle species in India.

The Ganges softshell turtle is a freshwater reptile found mainly in the Ganga, Indus and Mahanadi river systems across northern and eastern India. Known for its flat leathery shell and long snorkel-like nose, the species plays a vital ecological role by helping maintain river health through feeding on dead organic matter and aquatic organisms.

Despite its ecological importance, the turtle faces growing threats from river pollution, sand mining, illegal wildlife trade and destruction of aquatic habitats. The species is listed as “Vulnerable” on the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, indicating a high risk of decline in the wild.

In India, the species is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which grants it the highest level of legal protection and makes hunting or possession of the turtle a punishable offence.

The initiative also highlights the expanding conservation focus at Kaziranga National Park, globally known for its one-horned rhinoceros population, but increasingly recognised for efforts to protect lesser-known endangered species and fragile river ecosystems.