Lucknow: Marking World Turtle Day (May 23), a special cycling awareness campaign was organized at Kukrail Gharial Rehabilitation Centre on Saturday to promote turtle conservation and aquatic biodiversity. The event was jointly organized by the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department's 'Endangered Species Project', Turtle Survival Alliance Foundation India, and the Gomti Task Force of the Territorial Army's 39 Gorkha Rifles.
India's Rich Turtle Diversity
India is the world's third richest country in terms of freshwater turtle and tortoise diversity. Uttar Pradesh alone is home to nearly 50 percent of the country's freshwater turtle species. Of the 15 turtle species found in the state, almost 60 percent fall under threatened categories, highlighting the urgent need for conservation efforts.
Conservation Efforts at Kukrail Centre
The Kukrail Gharial Rehabilitation Centre currently maintains assurance colonies of 12 freshwater turtle species, out of which eight are breeding successfully. This breeding success is a positive sign for the conservation of these species.
Participants, including students, cyclists, and nature enthusiasts, joined the rally and various awareness activities. The events focused on highlighting the ecological importance of turtles and the urgent need for habitat conservation. Turtles play a crucial role in maintaining the health of aquatic ecosystems, and their decline can have far-reaching consequences.
