Guwahati: A dedicated nursery enclosure was inaugurated today at the Assam State Zoo-cum-Botanical Garden for Black Softshell Turtle hatchlings.
Earlier, this critically endangered species was translocated to the zoo from the Nagshankar Temple, Biswanath Chariali, and Hayagriv Madhav Mandir, Hajo in separate events over the last few months.
This dedicated facility was developed jointly by the Assam State Zoo and Turtle Survival Alliance India and falls under the scope of Black Softshell Turtle Vision Plan 2030 launched earlier last year. It is being implemented by joint efforts Assam Forest Department, Deputy Commissioner, Kamrup (Rural), Nagshankar temple committee, Hayagriv Madhav Mandir temple committee, Help Earth, and Turtle Survival Alliance India.
Dr Ashwini Kumar, Director, Assam State Zoo cum Botanical Garden, who inaugurated the nursery enclosure said, “This was a much-needed facility for the zoo which is exclusively dedicated for the rearing of Black Softshell Turtles.”
The Assam State Zoo provided an existing area which was developed into a nursery to house the turtle hatchlings by Turtle Survival Alliance, India. Dr Kumar appreciated the TSA India team’s support and efforts in this development.
Dr Shailendra Singh, Director, TSA India, informed that as a part of long term rearing and rewilding efforts undertaken by TSA for the species, “The facility is developed to aid monitored rearing to raise the survival of the neonates, which erstwhile have faint chances of survival at the temple ponds.”
Singh of the Turtle Survival Alliance has, in fact, been shortlisted for Whitley Awards 2022 for bringing black soft-shell turtle back from the brink in Assam. In 2021, Nagaland conservationist Y Nuklu Phom won the prestigious ‘Whitley Awards 2021‘, alongside six other awardees from South Africa, Argentina, Brazil and Kenya.
For close to a decade, the TSA India team has been working closely with Nagshankar, and other temples in the region in the management and upkeep of their temple ponds, and their turtle populations.
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In India there are many Botanical Gardens that includes many plants and trees. The Botanical Gardens preserve many indigenous plant species as well as many exotic examples of floral species. The Botanical gardens are places for research regarding plantation, cultivation and quality and quantity of fruits and flowers. It also organizes regular flower show. The Botanical Gardens enhances the greenery of a particular place and add much to the aesthetic value.
https://www.indianetzone.com/17/botanical_gardens_india.htm