Kaziranga Survey Records 945 Freshwater Turtles, Seven Species Identified

• A survey in Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR) recorded 945 freshwater turtles of seven species along the Brahmaputra River.
• The fifth annual aquatic reptiles survey was conducted by KNPTR and India Turtle Conservation Programme (ITCP) from January 14-18.
• The Brahmaputra River is a global freshwater biodiversity hotspot and Turtle Priority Area, with Kaziranga harboring 17 of India's 32 turtle species.
• The survey covered 174 km of the Brahmaputra, documenting 876 hardshell and 69 softshell turtles, including critically endangered Black Softshell Turtles.
• Beyond turtles, the survey also recorded 92 bird species, otters, Gangetic river dolphins, and Kaziranga's 'big five' megafauna.

Why It Matters: A recent survey in Kaziranga found 945 freshwater turtles of seven species, highlighting the region's rich biodiversity.