Photo Courtesy: nenow
Guwahati: A rare Tricarinate Hill Turtle needed help. Brahmaputra floods swept the animal downstream, leaving it injured. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed the rescue on X this Sunday. Workers treated the turtle before returning it to a freshwater habitat.
This species, Melanochelys tricarinata, sports three distinct ridges on its dark, domed shell. It stays mostly on land in forests or riverine grasslands. The shell measures about 174 mm. Scientific data on this small creature remains scarce. Assam hosts several key sites for the species. Records exist in Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, Orang National Park, Kaziranga National Park, Manas Tiger Reserve, Sonapur, and the Biswanath plains.
Threats are mounting. A 2025 study in Scientific Reports listed the animal as Endangered. Experts cite habitat loss, illegal pet trade, and poaching as major risks. Urban sprawl and the drying of wetlands further fragment the environment. Climate change adds another layer of danger. It shifts rainfall patterns and alters flooding cycles, which impacts food and shelter. Accidental capture in fishing gear remains a constant hazard.
Local communities act as the first line of defense. They spot displaced animals and aid rescue operations. Protecting forest corridors and better monitoring remain vital. Sarma noted the incident highlights broader issues, stating, "The rescue and rehabilitation of an injured Tricarinate Hill Turtle from the Brahmaputra has drawn attention to the conservation concerns surrounding one of Assam’s relatively little-known and threatened turtle species."
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