Return of the Bostami turtle

Thanks to the authorities' conservation initiatives, the population of the endangered Bostami turtle has been increasing.

In Bangladesh, Bostami turtles are found in only a few water bodies. The pond by the shrine of Hazrat Bayazid Bostami in the port city is one of those.

Due to the decreasing population over the years, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) declared the species "extinct in the wild" in 2002.

After that, the shrine's management committee took the initiative to increase the population.

Creative Conservation Alliance (CCA), a non-government organisation, has been working to conserve Bostami turtles since 2019, with financial support from the management committee.

Besides, Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation Division (WMNCD), Chattogram has also been providing support for breeding the turtles.

Asked about the earlier fall in population, WMNCD official Nur Jahan said, "The turtles lay eggs in the pond's soft soil. But breeding was hampered, as the soil had hardened due to construction of structures near the water body, which created opportunities for crows, dogs and other animals to eat the eggs."

"In addition, fish in the pond eat baby turtles. So, an artificial breeding centre has been set up near the shrine to increase the population," she said.

"The number of Bostami turtles is now increasing due to proper care, and more than 300 turtles have been born in the last three years. The turtles have already been released into the pond," said Nur Jahan.

In 2004, when water from the pond was pumped out after miscreants poisoned the water body, 408 turtles were found, said a staffer of WMNCD. There has been no survey since then.

Farid Ahsan, a professor of zoology at Chittagong University, who studied this black soft-shell turtle, in his 1984 survey recorded around 320 Bostami turtles in the pond.

In his study, Prof Farid had recommended a detailed demographic survey, long-term research and monitoring, introduction of a captive breeding programme, analysis of pond ecology, and study on the association between turtles and fish.

Contacted, Prof Farid said as the Bostami turtle is an endangered species, proper initiative should be taken to conserve it.

"No precautionary measures were taken to protect Bostami turtles till CCA took the responsibility," said CCA Chief Executive Officer Shahriar Caesar Rahman. "We are working on increasing the population and conserving the turtles in different parts of the country," he said.

According to the shrine management committee, 20 to 25 turtles die in the pond every year, and so, it wants the animals to be protected. "We have no objection regarding taking baby turtles from the pond for conservation purposes,'' said management committee secretary Habibur Rahman.