Pilibhit: With an abundant network of water bodies in the district, Pilibhit has a sizable turtle population. However, till date scant attention has been paid to these aquatic animals, which have become the target of poachers and apathy by communities living along these water bodies. Now, for the first time, a programme will be launched in the district to conserve these reptiles. The project is being spearheaded by the Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA), an NGO.While the actual numbers of this aquatic animal in Pilibhit is not known, a report, “Operation Save Kurma”, by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) revealed massive poaching and smuggling of turtles. It has become necessary to protect these reptiles as they play a vital role in cleaning up water bodies by consuming dead fish and flesh of dead animals.The report prompted the TSA to take up the study of turtles in Pilibhit. On its basis, it will draft a conservation plan. Its aim is to find solutions to saving turtles with the involvement of local community.The TSA, in collaboration with the Uttar Pradesh forest and wildlife department, is already involved in nest monitoring, egg protection and relocation, and rear-and-release of turtles in National Chambal Sanctuary and in the Ganga in Hastinapur wildlife sanctuary.According to data available, of the total 26 turtle species found in India, 10 are known to live in Pilibhit. Of these, four are listed in the endangered Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.Giving details about the project, country programme director of TSA Shailendra Singh said a team will reach Pilibhit in the first week of March to start preliminary survey of water bodies having turtles and identifying the species. It will also train forest staff and work on converting local communities into protectors of turtles. Finally, the conservation programme, including setting up of hatcheries, will be launched. These activities are to be executed in phases over a span of five to 10 years.According to divisional director of social forestry Adarsh Kumar, “There are as many as 503 identified wetlands in the protected as well as the reserve forest areas across UP. Of these, 132 wetlands are located within Pilibhit Tiger Reserve while 24 major reservoirs are situated out of the forest.Of these, the most important water body is the 22-km long Sharda Sagar dam which is home to many scheduled species of turtles, he said.Apart from this, 11 rivers, including Mala, Khannaut, Katna and Chuka rivers, flow through PTR. These are important turtles habitats, Kumar added.Tilotma Verma, additional director of WCCB, did not rule out the possibility of Pilibhit being a supply point of turtles as more than two dozen cases of turtle seizure have been reported by PTR and social forestry division over the past three years.It is in this context that TSA’s Singh said local people would be trained in turtle keeping along with fishery programe so that they can be motivated to give up poaching while fulfilling their need for consumption and profit-making.

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