Red-Crowned Roofed Turtles Return to the Ganga After 30 Years

After vanishing for 30 years, the Red-Crowned Roofed Turtle is back in the Ganga.

Yep, it finally happened. On April 26, twenty of these critically endangered turtles were released into the Haiderpur Wetland, which connects with the Ganga during the monsoon. It’s a big deal. These turtles were once native to the river but had completely disappeared from its main channel.

This comeback wasn’t random. It’s part of a planned reintroduction effort under the Namami Gange Mission. The turtles were raised at the Garhaita Turtle Conservation Center and fitted with sonic tags so their movements can be tracked. Basically, they’re swimming radio signals now.

The team didn’t just drop all the turtles in one spot. Half went upstream of the barrage, and the rest downstream into the Ganga’s main flow. It’s like a live test to see which method—soft release or hard release—works better for getting them to settle in and survive.

This isn’t just about one turtle species. It’s about restoring balance to a river that’s been struggling for years. Studies done in 2020 and 2022 showed zero stable populations of this turtle. Just a few scattered sightings from way back.

Now with these 20 tagged turtles, the hope is to kickstart a new, self-sustaining population. The Uttar Pradesh Forest Department will keep a close eye on them over the next two years. If things go well, this could be a model for future rewilding efforts.

And credit where it’s due—the Namami Gange Mission isn’t just cleaning the river. It’s helping bring back life to it, literally. From government folks to local communities, everyone’s been pulling together to make this happen.

Someone from the mission said this moment proves what teamwork can do. I’d say it also proves that with enough patience and effort, even lost turtles can find their way home.