Nearly a thousand freshwater turtles belonging to seven different species have been documented along the Brahmaputra river stretch within Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR), underlining the region’s importance as a vital habitat for aquatic biodiversity.

According to park authorities, a total of 945 turtles were recorded during a systematic survey conducted between January 14 and 18.

The exercise formed part of the fifth annual survey of aquatic reptiles in the Kaziranga landscape and was jointly carried out by KNPTR officials and the India Turtle Conservation Programme (ITCP). This year’s survey placed special emphasis on freshwater turtles and tortoises.

Methodology and findings

The rapid, boat-based survey covered around 174 kilometres of the Brahmaputra as it flows through the protected area. Of the 945 turtles documented, 876 were hard-shelled and 69 were soft-shelled, collectively representing seven species.

Officials reported 55 direct sightings of hard-shell turtles and 13 sightings of soft-shell turtles. Among the latter were four Black Softshell Turtles, a critically endangered species endemic to the Brahmaputra basin.

The Black Softshell Turtle continues to face serious threats from habitat degradation, predation and overexploitation. However, park officials noted that conservation initiatives in Kaziranga and adjoining areas, including the Nagshankar Temple region in Assam’s Biswanath district, have contributed to better protection and awareness for the species.

Brahmaputra: A biodiversity hotspot

The Brahmaputra river system is internationally recognised as a freshwater biodiversity hotspot and a Turtle Priority Area. The wider Kaziranga landscape alone supports 17 of the 32 freshwater turtle and tortoise species found across India, making it one of the most significant regions for turtle conservation in the country.

Beyond turtles, the survey documented 92 bird species and confirmed the presence of other key riverine and wetland fauna such as the smooth-coated otter and the Gangetic river dolphin. Sightings of Kaziranga’s iconic ‘big five’—the tiger, greater one-horned rhinoceros, elephant, swamp deer and wild water buffalo—were also reported during the survey period.

Based on species diversity, habitat quality and levels of human disturbance, the study identified five locations along the surveyed stretch of the Brahmaputra as conservation priority habitats. These areas are expected to receive focused attention in future management plans.

Need for continued monitoring

Park officials stressed that sustained monitoring and continued collaboration with the India Turtle Conservation Programme will be crucial to safeguarding the ecological health of the Brahmaputra. They added that adaptive conservation strategies would be necessary to respond effectively to the river’s changing dynamics and long-term environmental challenges.

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