Rare turtle strapped with Indian satellite transmitter rescued in Khulna

A rare species of turtle strapped with Indian satellite tracker has been rescued in Kazirhat area of Digholia upazila in Khulna.

The turtle was taken to the Karamjal Wildlife Breeding Centre in the Sundarbans on Sunday.

Howlader Azad Kabir, in charge of Karamjal Wild Animal Breeding Centre, informed that the turtle is of a rare species of Batagur Baska kind and has been handed over to the forest department.

An Indian phone number was pasted on the satellite tracker that was placed on the back of the turtle, Azad Kabir said citing Forest conservator of Khulna region Mihir Kumar Do.

Calling the number, it has been confirmed that an Indian company released the turtle into the river for research.

Abdur Rab, station manager of a Batagur Baska Project, said the rescued turtle belongs to near-extinct Batagur Baska species.

The Indian Tiger Project on February 15 released 10 such turtles strapping them with satellite transmitters to track their movement and behaviour, he said.

Batagur Baska species of turtles were once found in Bangladesh, India and Myanmar. It is now on the verge of extinction. However, a few of them are still found in the coastal areas of these countries.

Bangladesh’s Batagur Baska Project — in collaboration with the US and Austria — also conducts research on rare turtle species.

The research activities include conservation, breeding, movement and behaviour of turtles of endangered Batagur Baska species.