KANPUR: It is the time of the year when hundreds of turtles make their way to the banks of Yamuna to lay their eggs. However, heavy release of water from Tajewala dam and Hathnikund barrage in Haryana for bathing purpose at Kumbh mela in Allahabad has delayed the mass nesting phenomenon of aquatic animals in the region.
Wildlife experts say it could be due to excess release of water into the river Yamuna from Tajewala dam and Hathnikund barrage in Haryana besides other water reservoirs, which have majorly affected the turtles and perhaps other aquatic species, as well. "The nesting season, particularly of hard shell turtles, usually start from February end, but very few turtle nesting sites were sighted this year," said Rajiv Chauhan, secretary, society for conservation of nature. The NGO has been extensively engaged in conserving turtles since the last couple of decades.
Sita Ram Taigor of Peace Charitable Trust, New Delhi also claimed that the mass nesting of turtles is a routine feature during this time of the year. "February is drawing its end and very few turtle nesting sites are spotted along the banks of river Yamuna in the ongoing breeding season," he said.
Generally rare varieties of turtles like Kachuga Tacta, considered to be highly endangered and categorised as Schedule-I animal by IUCN, are found in Yamuna but these species are becoming rare, he added.
The sandy banks, which are considered to be the most favourite site and congenial place for mass nesting phenomenon, underwent rapid topographical changes following natural and artificial disasters over the last couple of years. Conservationists expressed their concern over the damage of nesting sites due to erosion of sand banks following excess release of water from dams and barrages. A major stretch in the down stream of the river, starting right from Bateshwar in Agra upto Sangam in Allahabad, is widely regarded as the densest nesting area for hard as well as soft shell turtles.
According to the locals of Bateshwar, the water body is home to more than half a dozen different varieties of tortoises including Kachuga tacta, Kachuga tentoria, the red-crowned roofed turtle (Batagur Kachuga) and three-striped roofed turtle, Batagur Dhongoka.
"After mating at the river, females come on the sand banks during the breeding season to nest. They dig a hole in the sand, where 10-20 eggs are deposited at a time," informed Chauhan further. He also added that recent rain may also have washed away some of the turtle nesting sites.
"It is almost a great loss to us. We would try our best to save the nesting sites by apprising our superiors about the issue wherein heavy release of water from Tajewala dam and Hathnikund barrage in Haryana led to a major destruction," said Manik Chandra Yadav, district forest officer of Etawah.
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