Overview

• The release on Saturday at Hadug Beel inside Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary involved hatchlings of Black Softshell, Indian Tent, and Ganges Softshell turtles.
• The juveniles were sourced from the Haigriv Madhab Temple pond in Hajo and quarantined under veterinary supervision at the Assam State Zoo before reintroduction.
• Kamrup district administration, the Haigriv Madhab Temple Committee, the Forest Department, and the Assam State Zoo coordinated the operation for in-situ conservation.
• Officials describe Hadug Beel as a perennial, well-protected wetland linked seasonally to the Brahmaputra, Pokoriya, and Kolong rivers, providing suitable habitat for aquatic wildlife.
• Pobitora’s range officer noted the Black Softshell Turtle remains Critically Endangered after once being listed Extinct in the Wild, with temple-pond rewilding credited for aiding its recovery.