Critically Endangered Turtles Return to India’s Ganga River After 80% Population Decline
Affiliate Disclosure
Hey fellow impactful ninja ?
You may have noticed that Impactful Ninja is all about providing helpful information to make a positive impact on the world and society. And that we love to link back to where we found all the information for each of our posts.
Most of these links are informational-based for you to check out their primary sources with one click.
But some of these links are so-called "affiliate links" to products that we recommend.
Why do we add these product links?
First and foremost, because we believe that they add value to you. For example, when we wrote a post about the environmental impact of long showers, we came across an EPA recommendation to use WaterSense showerheads. So we linked to where you can find them. Or, for many of our posts, we also link to our favorite books on that topic so that you can get a much more holistic overview than one single blog post could provide.
And when there is an affiliate program for these products, we sign up for it. For example, as Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases.
What do these affiliate links mean for you?
First, and most importantly, we still only recommend products that we believe add value for you.
When you buy something through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a small commission - but at no additional costs to you.
And when you buy something through a link that is not an affiliate link, we won’t receive any commission but we’ll still be happy to have helped you.
What do these affiliate links mean for us?
When we find products that we believe add value to you and the seller has an affiliate program, we sign up for it.
When you buy something through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a small commission (at no extra costs to you).
And at this point in time, all money is reinvested in sharing the most helpful content with you. This includes all operating costs for running this site and the content creation itself.
What does this mean for me personally?
You may have noticed by the way Impactful Ninja is operated that money is not the driving factor behind it. It is a passion project of mine and I love to share helpful information with you to make a positive impact on the world and society. However, it's a project in that I invest a lot of time and also quite some money.
Eventually, my dream is to one day turn this passion project into my full-time job and provide even more helpful information. But that's still a long time to go.
Stay impactful,
At Impactful Ninja, we curate positive and impactful news for you. Follow us on Google News or sign up for our free newsletter to get these delivered straight to your inbox—just like our expert roundup below!
📰 The quick summary: Twenty critically endangered red-crowned roofed turtles have been released into India’s Ganga River, marking a vital comeback for a species that has declined by 80% over the past five decades.
📈 One key stat: The red-crowned roofed turtle population declined by 80% over the last 50 years, highlighting the urgency of current conservation efforts to prevent extinction.
💬 One key quote: “This study is the first telemetry-based monitoring effort of these turtles in the Ganga River,” Pawan Shantiprakash Pareek, a researcher with the Turtle Survival Alliance Foundation India, told Mongabay India.
1️⃣ The big picture: Scientists are tracking the return of critically endangered red-crowned roofed turtles to India’s Ganga River. Once widespread throughout the river system, these rare turtles had nearly disappeared due to hunting, illegal trade, habitat loss, and changes in river flow. Until recently, the only known remaining population of about 500 adult females lived in the National Chambal Sanctuary. After villagers spotted some turtles outside this sanctuary, conservationists relocated 20 turtles to two different areas of the Ganga to evaluate rehabilitation methods and expand their range.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: Conservationists have equipped all released turtles with transmitters for real-time monitoring, providing crucial data on movement, habitat preferences, and behavior in their natural environment. Local religious figures have become conservation allies, with over 20 Hindu holy men now helping protect the turtles by using their influence to reduce illegal fishing and hunting activities. Recent turtle sightings outside their known sanctuary habitat indicate the species may be more resilient than previously thought. This rehabilitation project represents a hopeful step toward saving a species that once thrived throughout the Ganga River system and restoring ecological balance.
3️⃣ What’s next: Researchers will continue analyzing telemetry data to understand how the turtles adapt to different river environments and what threats they encounter. Scientists plan to compare outcomes between the two release sites to determine the most effective rehabilitation approach. Conservation efforts will likely expand to include more community engagement and possible additional releases if the current program proves successful.
Read the full story here: Mongabay.com – Tracking the return of critically endangered turtles in India’s Ganga River
