Issues and Trends of Wildlife Conservation in Northeast India 2014

203 ISBN 978-81-924321-7-5

Status survey of turtle fauna in temple ponds in and around Guwahati, Kamrup,
Assam, India

Pragoti Kalita
1*
and Mridul Bora
1,2

1
Animal Ecology and Wildlife Biology Lab., Department of Zoology, Gauhati University, Gopinath
Bordoloi Nagar, Guwahati-14, Assam, India
2
Aaranyak, Ever Green, Samanwoy Path, Survey, Beltola, Guwahati-28, Assam
*Corresponding author

Abstract
A turtle inventory study was carried out in and around Guwahati metro covering a 70km
2
area from
7
th
November of 2013 to 29
th
March of 2014. The first aim of this study is to produce an inventory list
of turtle fauna present in the temple ponds in and around Guwahati. Line transects method and visual
encounter survey was carried out to know the diversity of turtle fauna in temple ponds. On the other
hand random observations like pH test, BOD, DO test and questionnaire survey has been followed to
evaluate the habitat of turtles and the threats regarding their habitat. After data analysis an inventory
list of turtle fauna is produced. Some new turtle species are recorded in the study site for the first time.
From this study we can also get the whole scenario of their habitat. It has seen that almost all habitats
are not good enough for turtles. Imbalance of pH, high BOD and DO indicates that temple ponds are
no more suitable habitat for turtle fauna. Plastic wastes, household wastes and other wastes are acting
as major water pollutant in the temple ponds. Moreover accept one temple pond there is no place for
proper breeding or basking site in the temple ponds. Hence the role of government, temple committee
and local people is very important from the conservation view. A multidimensional long term plan
should be adopted as soon as possible to conserve the turtle faunas and maintain their habitats in the
study site.

Keywords: Turtle, temple pond, Guwahati.

Introduction
Turtles and tortoises are major
biodiversity components of the ecosystems
they inhabit, often serving as keystone species
from which other animals and plants benefit
(TCF report, 2007). Turtles and tortoises are
the distinctive group of reptiles of the order
Chelonii or Testudines, with a shell that gives
perfect protection to their body. Turtles are
divided into two groups, according to how
they evolved a solution to the problem of
withdrawing their necks into their shells the
Cryptodira, which can draw their necks in
while contracting it under their spine; and the
Pleurodira, which contract their necks to the
side. India has 29 species of freshwater turtles
and tortoises. Occurrence of 21 species so far
confirmed from North-East India making it a
treasure-trove for the freshwater chelonian
diversity. The diversity can be grouped into
Geoemydidae (Asian pond turtle),
Testudinidae (land tortoises) and Trionychidae
(softshell turtle) (Ahmed and Das, 2009). The
river Brahmaputra valley of Assam provide
important habitats (e.g nesting and basking
sites) for many species of freshwater turtles,
including the Assam roofed turtle Pangshura
sylhetensis (Jerdon, 1870). Again a good
population of Nilssonia nigricans has been
recorded in temple ponds in and around
Guwahati earlier which is currently extinct in
wild. Other turtle species found in the study
sites are either vulnerable or endangered.
So temple ponds of the study site seem
an important area for conservation of turtle
fauna. The basic aim of this study is to prepare
an inventory list of turtle fauna present in the
Issues and Trends of Wildlife Conservation in Northeast India 2014

204 ISBN 978-81-924321-7-5

study site. We have covered 4 temple ponds,
while earlier study was concluded in only 3
temple ponds. On the other hand we conducted
a detailed habitat study to know the habitat
health and habitat related threats facing by the
turtle fauna.
Study Area
The study area Guwahati
(Coordinates: 26.1859N, 91.7477E) is
located on the capital city of the state of
Assam with a total area of 216.79 km2. The
research was carried out in four different sites
of in and around Guwahati. Geographically,
the study site A, Kaso Pukhuri of
Kamakhya temple pond of Nilachal hill is
located in the southern bank of the river
Brahmaputra between 26 05' to 26 15' N
Latitude and 91 35' to 91 55 E Longitudes.
(Guwahati Metropolitan Development
Authority, 2006)
The study site B, Madhab Pukhuri is
located in the Hayagriva Madhab Temple of
Manikut Hill. This hill is situated in Hajo,
which is about 32kms west of Guwahati in
Kamrup district. At the foot of the stairway of
the temple the large turtle pond is present.
The third study site C Chandika
Kaso Pukhuri is situated in Chaygaon, on the
south bank of the Brahmaputra River. It is
24.8 km distance from its District Main City
Guwahati .
The fourth study site D UgroTara
Pukhuri is present in the Ugrotara
Temple located in the western side of Jor
Pukhury tanks in the heart of Guwahati city in
the Lotaxil (Latasil) locality in Northeast
India.
Methods
Field study has been carried out from
7
th
November of 2013 to 29
th
March of 2014.
The inventory surveys mainly followed Line
transect method (Bibby et. al., 1992) in the
study area. Whole study was done on foot. The
surfacing turtles were photographed during the
study.
Some modern techniques were followed to
know the pH, BOD and DO of water.
Questionnaire survey was conducted among
150 locals, tourists and priests to know their
social responsibility for sake of turtle
conservation.

Result
Collected photographs were analysed
to prepare the inventory of turtle fauna present
in the study site. Out of four temple pond,
pond of Hajio Madhab temple showed highest
diversity. Candika pukhuri showed a very
positive result.
On the other hand, collected samples like pH
reading, BOD and DO reading we get some
unpleasant result about habitat of turtles. It has
seen that temple ponds are not an ideal habitat
for turtles. After field study and data analysed
an inventory of turtle fauna has been produced
and a table was produced to know the habitat
health.

Discussion
The temple ponds in and around
Guwahati are very significant in terms of its
turtle fauna especially because this is one of
the very few places where Nilssonia nigricans
is found. Nilssonia nigricans is under extinct
in wild (EW) category of IUCN, so this temple
ponds act as an important pocket for Nilssonia
nigricans. Again this temple pond is also
house of several endangered and other
vulnerable species.
But the current scenario of these
temple ponds is facing with great danger.
Many non biodegradable wastes such as
plastic wrappers of food items, aluminum foil
is being seen floating on the pond surface,
which has probably make their way through
offerings of the devotees. Foods offered by
devotee in many cases are seen to be ones
which is not the diet of the turtle. It thereby
gets rotten and adds to the organic waste of the
pond. The ponds also shows a very high

Issues and Trends of Wildlife Conservation in Northeast India 2014

205 ISBN 978-81-924321-7-5

Table 1: Inventory of turtle fauna present in the study site

Name of the
study site
Name of the Turtle Species recorded

IUCN Status
Common name Scientific name
Kamakhya
temple pond
Black Softshell Turtle Nilssonia nigricans Extinct in wild
Indian Softshell Turtle Nilssonia gangeticus Vulnerable
Peacock Softshell
Turtle
Nilssonia hurum Vulnerable
Assam Roofed Turtle Pangshura sylhetensis Endangered
Indian Roofed Turtle Pangshura tectum Least concerned
Spotted Pond Turtle Geoclemys hamiltonii Vulnerable
Indian Tent Turtle Pangshura tentoria Least concerned
Hajo Madhab
temple pond
Black Softshell Turtle Nilssonia nigricans Extinct in wild
Narrow Headed
Shoftshell Turtle
Chitra indica Endangered
Spotted pond Turtle Geoclemys hamiltonii Vulnerable
Indian Softshell Turtle Nilssonia gangeticus Vulnerable
Peacock Softshell
Turtle
Nilssonia hurum Vulnerable
Assam Roofed Turtle Pangshura sylhetensis Endangered
Indian Roofed Turtle Pangshura tectum Least concerned
Indian Flapshell Turtle Lissemys punctata Least concerned
Indian Tent Turtle Pangshura tentoria Least concerned
Tricarinate Turtle Melanochelys
tricarinata
Vulnerable
Ugrotara temple
pond
Black Softshell Turtle Nilssonia nigricans Extinct in wild
Peacock Softshell
Turtle
Nilssonia hurum Vulnerable
Indian Roofed Turtle Pangshura tectum Least concerned
Assam Roofed Turtle Pangshura sylhetensis Endangered
Indian Softshell Turtle Nilssonia gangeticus Vulnerable
Spotted pond Turtle Geoclemys hamiltonii Vulnerable
Brown Roofed Turtle Pangshura smithii Endangered
Indian Flapshell Turtle Lissemys punctata Least concerned
Indian Tent Turtle Pangshura tentoria Least concerned
Chandika
Pukhuri
Indian Softshell Turtle Nilssonia gangeticus Vulnerable
Indian Tent Turtle Pangshura tentoria Least concerned
Peacock Softshell
Turtle
Nilssonia hurum Vulnerable
Assam Roofed Turtle Pangshura sylhetensis Endangered
Indian Roofed Turtle Pangshura tectum Least concerned





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Table 2: Factors effecting habitat of turtles

Study Site Average
pH
Average
BOD
(mg/l)
DO
(mg/l)
Average
Turbidity
(cm)
Outlet Breeding
site
Basking
site
Kamakhya
Temple
pond
6.6 7.2 1.04-
0.62
39 0 0 4
Hajo
Madhab
Temple
pond
7.1 6 0.82-
0.45
48 2 3 15
Ugrotara
Temple
pond
6.2 7.8 1.09-
0.51
15 0 1 3
Chandika
Temple
pond
7.3 6.5 0.78-
0.46
52 1 0 2

density of turtles in a very confined area.
There are no proper breeding sites for the
turtles. As well as no proper outlets are
observed, so the polluted water cant go out
and fresh water cant enter in the ponds.
Physically, water of the ponds on first
observation does not appear very clean mainly
due to litter of non biodegradable materials
such as plastics as well as bits of food articles
offered by the devotees to the turtles in the
pond. Almost all pond water emits a foul
odour on closer observation. The colour of the
Kamakhya and Ugrotara temple pond water is
muddy brown and it is often coated by a
greenish algal layer. The surroundings, on the
other hand, appear to be clean, although its
perimeter was seen to be littered with papers,
bread crumbs, plastics, wheat balls, banana
peels, etc which gives an unhealthy
appearance to the temple ponds.However,
Hajo Mabdhab temple pond and Chandika
temple ponds are relatively healthy than
Kamakhya and Ugrotara temple pond.
The apparent threat faced by these
turtles is the outcome of lack of awareness
regarding turtle biology on the part of the
devotees and the temple authorities.
So, immediate conservation of turtle
fauna of these ponds is very essential. Here we
need to adopt a multi dimensional work plan
to clean up the water body, development of
breeding site as well as the proper protection
of turtle fauna as soon as possible.

Acknowledgement
Our special thanks to Prof. P. K. Saikia,
Animal Ecology and Wildlife Biology Lab.,
Dept. of Zoology, Gauhati University. We
would also like to thank Dr Malabika Kakoti ,
Animal Ecology and Wildlife Biology Lab.,
Dept. of Zoology, Gauhati University for
fruitful advice during the survey. Our sincere
thanks to Arachana Kalita, research scholar at
Gauhati University and Rosymoni Das project
associate at Gauhati University for their
valuable guidance during the survey.

References
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Amphibians and Reptiles of Northeast
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