In a major conservation milestone, 20 Red-Crowned Roofed Turtles were reintroduced into the Ganga River on April 26. This reintroduction, part of the Namami Gange Mission, marks the turtle’s return after a 30-year absence from the river’s main channel.

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• Red-Crowned Roofed Turtle missing from Ganga for 30+ years
• 20 turtles released on April 26 in Haiderpur Wetland, Uttar Pradesh
• Effort led by Namami Gange Mission, aided by UP Forest Dept
• Turtles raised at Garhaita Turtle Conservation Center
• Releases done both upstream and downstream of Haiderpur barrage
• Combination of soft and hard release methods used
• Turtles tagged with sonic devices for tracking
• Wetland connects with Ganga during monsoon, aiding dispersal
• Goal: build a self-sustaining turtle population in Ganga
• Marks ecological success of Namami Gange Mission