Northern River Terrapin

Northern River Terrapin is an Indian Reptile that bears a scientific name “Batagur baska“, is a species of Sweet Water Turtle. Northern River Terrapin is one of the most critically endangered turtle species according to a 2000 assessment by the IUCN.

Structure of Northern River Terrapin
Northern River Terrapin is one of Asia’s largest freshwater and brackish turtles. The carapace of Northern River Terrapin is moderately depressed, with a vertebral keel in the young, which keel disappears in the adult; nuchal broader than long; first vertebral as broad in front as behind, or a little broader; vertebral 2 to 4 sub equal, much broader than long in the young, nearly as long as broad and as broad as the costal in the adult. The postero-lateral border of the third vertebral is strongly concave.

Of released turtles, three ended in Bangladesh, where two of them were rescued by the Bangladesh Forest Department in March. Later after a short period in captivity, the turtles were released, with the help of Vienna Zoo, as part of a dialogue between the two countries. Till now all turtles have utilized an area of over 10,000 sq. km, which equates to the entire range of the Sunderbans in both countries.