Northern River Terrapin

Northern River Terrapin

Part of: Prelims and GS-III Environment 

Context: Recently, GPS transmitters on Northern River Terrapin in Indian Sundarbans were installed.

• The objective of the initiative was to ascertain the habitat, breeding pattern and the movement of the species.
• After installation, at least three of the ten individuals of the critically endangered Northern River Terrapin have travelled hundreds of kilometers and are now in Bangladesh.

Northern river terrapin

• It is found in India and Bangladesh (Sundarbans), Myanmar, Malaysia (peninsular), Indonesia (Sumatra), Thailand, and Cambodia.
• It lives in coastal mangrove estuaries and creeks, but ventures far upstream during the breeding season.
• Threats:
  • Hunting and harvesting of eggs.
  • Pollution and loss of habitat
  • Drowning by illegal fishing nets.
  • Siltation and sedimentation due to watershed activities such as logging.
• IUCN: Critically endangered
• CITES: Appendix I

News Source: TH