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Multidimensional Outlook on Environment E d i t o r s D r. S a r m i s t h a S a h a D r. R a h i S o r e n D r. N o b i n a M u k h e r j e e D r. S i r s e n d u B h o w m i c k Multidimensional Outlook on Environment ISBN: 978-81-948349-0-8 A Study on Community Based Conservation Status of Nilssonia nigricans (Anderson 1875) in Cooch Behar, West Bengal, India Karabi Roy Pramanik1, Raviranjan Pandey1, Tamali Roy1, Sarmistha Saha2, Hadida Yasmin1* 1Dept. of Zoology, Cooch Behar Panchanan Barma University, Coochbehar, West Bengal, India 2Central Pollution Control Board, Eastern Region Directorate, Kolkata * Corresponding author: Hadida Yasmin, E-mail: [email protected] ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT A freshwater turtle species Black softshell turtle (Nilssonia Keywords: nigricans) has been categorized as ‘extinct in the wild’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in Black Softshell Turtle the year 2002. This species is now restricted in some temple Baneswar ponds of Bangladesh (Bayazad Bostami shrine) & in Assam India (Hayagriva temple), India. The existence of Black softshell Community Conserva- turtle inhabiting the Baneswar Shiva temple pond of Cooch tion Behar district, West Bengal has been documented in news Nilssonia nigricans media. Current study reports the existence of Black softshell turtle in the natural water bodies such as community ponds, water lodged areas and even in house hold drainages of Baneswar. They have been found displaying usual terrestrial activities such as nesting and breeding in their natural habitats. Present study reveals the community conservation efforts by the local people of Baneswar. Finding the threats to these freshwater turtles and coming up with conservation strategies is the focus of our study for its better conservation and successful survival in the nature which might help to change its IUCN status. 1. Introduction same time they are often used as pets. Turtles and tortoises are keystone Turtle shell are also used for medicinal species, playing invaluable role in purpose in China where eggs as well balancing ecosystems (1, 2). There as different body parts of juveniles and are nearly 360 known turtle and adults are exploited indiscriminately tortoise species, out of these 127 are (4). Thus, they are in great demand in endangered or critically endangered international markets. (EN or CR) and 187 are threatened (CR, Black softshell turtle, Nilssonia EN or VU) according to the IUCN Red nigricans (5) is a fresh water turtle List criteria (3). Agricultural ponds, once found along the floodplains of irrigation ditches, fishing farm and Brahmaputra River (6) have now been water reservoirs are favorable habitats categorized as extinct in wild in the red for the turtles. Economically, freshwater data book of IUCN (7). N. nigricans was turtles are considered valuable as food first described by Anderson (5) from a for good quality of flesh and fat at the 26 Pramanik et al. (2021) single artificial pond near Chittagong, bodies as well. This paper highlights the Bangladesh (8, 9, 10, 11). It has also present condition of the turtle habitat, been spotted in River Bhoroli and in its dispersal range and the associated Hayagriva Madhava temple’s pond in threats to the species. Findings of this the state of Assam in northeast India article might facilitate development of (12, 13). appropriate conservation strategies. A small population of Black softshell 2. Study Area and Methodology turtle, locally known as ‘Mohan’, Current study area involves has been documented inhabiting the Baneswar (26°23’31” N, 89°29’43.73” pond adjacent to the Baneswar Shiva E) which is a Panchayat area under Temple of the Cooch Behar district of Pundibari Block-2 in Cooch Behar West Bengal, India. Geographically, district (25°57’47” to 26°36’20” N and Cooch Behar district is the part of the 88°47’44” to 89°54’35” E) of West Bengal. Himalayan Terai region of West Bengal There is an ancient Shiva Temple in bounded by the State of Assam in the Baneswar which was built around east and Indo-Bangladesh boundary in sixteenth century and renovated in the the south as well as in the west. This late 1750’s by Maharaja Pran Narayan, temple was established around the year the King of Cooch Behar. As per the 1625-1665 and the turtles have been oral history of Baneswar, the temple found in a pond adjacent to the temple pond constructed during renovation of (14, 15, 16). The temple devotees named the temple became the primary habitat these fresh water turtles, Mohan and of the Black softshell turtle (Nilssonia thus, the pond came to be known as nigricans), though there is no printed Mohan Dighi (14, 15, 16). The reporting document to trace down the existence of of this species as Nilssonia nigricans this turtle species in this pond. (Anderson 1875) was also recently done on the basis of its morphological The study was carried out from 2018 characteristics (6). to 2020. The water-area, surroundings of the water bodies and adjacent In 2002 as an act of renovation, vegetation were explored for the turtle the banks of the pond were paved with sighting and identification of turtle concrete lining, which probably led to tracks, corridors and nesting sites. The the change in littoral habitat to a large ponds were scanned using binoculars extent, resulting in the death of at least for basking turtles. Focal sampling was 10 turtles (17). The local community done by scanning thoroughly within a believed this turtle as a form of Lord range of 3 km circling the temple area Vishnu and so their death led to several for a period of two years. Information protests. Eventually, the concrete lining about the turtle sighting from the local was removed and the nesting beach was community were also included in the reconstructed as it was earlier. study. Concerned officials of Forest In 2017, initiatives were taken to Department, Govt. of West Bengal were study the hydrological parameters of interviewed for the above mentioned the temple pond as turtle habitat by purpose. During the course of the an academic and research institution, study, the turtles that were rescued the Cooch Behar Panchanan Barma by the local community, inspected University. Detailed survey of the area for their morphological identification, resulted in the discovery of the presence photographed and released into their of Nilssonia nigricans in nearby water habitat. No turtles were harmed or put 27 Multidimensional Outlook on Environment ISBN: 978-81-948349-0-8 Fig.1: a. Map of study site Baneswar in Cooch Behar district of West Bengal. Green spots represent sampling ponds/waterbodies which are habitat of Nilssonia nigricans, b. Satellite map showing the vegetation and terrain of the dispersed area of N. nigricans. 28 Pramanik et al. (2021) under duress to carry out the study. and the head has black reticulation. Maps of the habitat were plotted using Juvenile carapace showed presence Geographical Positioning System (GPS) of ocelli with concentric rings usually readings. Detail geographical positions four in numbers on its dorsal surface. of all the ponds where the presence of Mating takes place during winter season N. nigricans was observed are provided as reported by the local people during in Annexure 1. No objection certificate interviewing. (NOC) for the study was granted by the Directorate of Forests, Government of The turtle habitats were found to West Bengal, India. be surrounded with different vegetation of algae and aquatic plants like floating, 3. Results and Discussion submerged and emergent macrophytes Our study documents a total of such as species from phylum 85 water bodies, including community Chlorophyta, Cyanophyta, Rhodophyta, pond, fishing pond, paddy field, marshy Bacillariophyta, Tracheophyta. A floral land, irrigation ditches, fishing farms, species list of the vegetation is provided water lodged areas, and household in Table 1. Fig.3 represents the plant drains where Black softshell turtle species found in and around the habitat (Nilssonia nigricans) have been located. of N. nigricans. These water bodies were distributed From the local community survey around 72 different locations apart and information from the Forest from its primary habitat, i.e. Baneswar Department, inducing factors that might Shiva Temple pond (Fig.1a, b). The total cause observed expansion of the habitat area of the temple pond, along with the of N. nigricans were identified in Cooch breeding ground, comprises 7604 m2 Behar district. Accounted aspects are and 5.5 m to 6 m deep (Fig.2a, b, c). The as follows: (a) presence of enormous turtle has been found to travel to new number of water bodies including habitats within an area of approximately perennial ponds; (b) frequent flash flood 1392300 m2; while dispersing, it has faced by the district; (c) availability of food moved about 622396 m2 away from especially fishes 6( ) and (d) community its primary location within Baneswar. protection. Cooch Behar district is known Thus, the total habitat area of the turtle for its very frequently scattered water as per the survey till March, 2020 is bodies (natural and man-made); fishery about 630000 m2 inside Baneswar. is therefore an important livelihood of Subsequently, it was observed that they the farmers of this district (18). The also travelled to new habitats covering rivers and water bodies of Cooch Behar an area of approximately 762300 m2 together comprise about 4.68 percent away from Baneswar, mostly towards (156.98 km2) of the total land use and Alipurduar district (1.79 km north). land cover (19). It has large numbers of The survey study is still in progress; it lentic water bodies such as fish ponds is expected that there are several other and beels, and lotic water bodies such locations that are yet to be reported.

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