River Terrapin ( Batagur baska) is enlisted as ‘critically endangered' in IUCN Red Data List. A recent two months' study of Nature Environment & Wildlife Society to estimate the status of River Terrapin is Sunderban Biosphere Reserve ha ended with an alarming result. Our survey has revealed that no reporting of Batagur baska being trapped or caught in fishing net for the last five to six year, except one juvenile in 2006 from Sunderban Tiger Reserve which was then handed over to forest department by the fisherman. Moreover the survey in the market where turtle meat has sold has shown the absolute absence of the River Terrapin for last 7 years. The sand head survey for nestling sites of River Terrapin has also ended with negative result.

A similar project was done in Bangladesh Sunderban in 2005. That project also ended with a similar result like the Indian part. “Preliminary findings from a survey to determine the status of Batagur baska in the Bangladesh Sundarbans that was carried out in January-March 2005 by AHM Ali Reza and students from Jahangirnagar University in Dhaka suggested that Batagur baska is uncommon in the area. The two weeks surveys examined potential nesting sites and interviewed local fishermen, turtle hunters and villagers in and around the Sundarbans mangrove forest. Markets were also inspected where freshwater turtles were observed for sale, as well as live Olive Ridley marine turtles selling for $10 USD each.” ( Source: AHM Ali Reza and his survey team, The Asian Turtle Crisis Bulletin – March 2005)

So the pilot surveys in Sunderban both in India and Bangladesh has ended up with the same gloomy result which shown that Batagur baska is facing the threat of extinction in the entire Sunderban region. Nature Environment & Wildlife Society feels that this is the high time to intervene in this matter to save the species from extinction in the whole Sunderban area. Primarily an in depth study should be conducted to find out the main reasons behind the sharp declination of population. Secondly we can think about an ex-situ conservation programme for the species in Sunderban area. For that purpose eight adult male and seven adult female animals kept in captivity in Sajnekhali in Sunderban Tiger Reserve can be treated as an initial brooder stock.