240 hatchlings of the critically endangered Black Softshell Turtle (Nilssonia nigricans), locally called Bormuria Kaso, were released on Saturday, 7 November into a protected waterbody under the Biswanath Wildlife Division in Assam, marking a significant milestone in the decade-long effort to pull the species back from the brink. The release was jointly organised by the Wildlife Survival Alliance Foundation India (WSAFI) and the Biswanath Wildlife Division, in collaboration with Kaziranga Tiger Reserve and the Assam Forest Department, under the ongoing project titled 'Conservation and Recovery of Black Softshell Turtle in Assam.'

From 'Extinct in the Wild' to Cautious Recovery

The Black Softshell Turtle was declared 'Extinct in the Wild' in the early 2000s — a sobering classification that underscored the scale of habitat loss and poaching pressure the species had endured. Sustained conservation efforts over the past two decades have since produced encouraging results: the turtle now maintains a stable population in the Brahmaputra-Kaziranga landscape, though it continues to carry the 'Critically Endangered' tag under global assessments. According to a senior forest official, the latest batch of hatchlings represents another concrete step in rebuilding that population.

How the Breeding Programme Works

The conservation pipeline begins at the historic Nagshankar Temple, which has played a central role in the programme. During the annual nesting season in March and April, eggs are collected from the temple pond and transported to Biswanath Ghat for artificial incubation under controlled conditions. This step is critical: it significantly reduces egg losses caused by predators, particularly mongooses, and improves overall hatching success rates.

Hatchlings typically emerge between July and August and are then moved to a grow-out facility, where they are reared for approximately three months. During this period, they are fed fresh small fish to build body weight and improve their odds of surviving once released into the wild. Since 2021, WSAFI — formerly known as TSA Foundation India — has released more than 1,000 Black Softshell Turtle hatchlings into protected habitats as part of this sustained effort.

Community at the Centre of Conservation

The release event was attended by Naduar MLA Padma Hazarika, the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Biswanath Wildlife Division, the concerned Range Officer, Nagshankar Temple Committee Secretary Rajib Barua, WSAFI Northeast Project Coordinator Upamanyu Chakraborty, Aditya Dey, and Krishna Das. Guests were felicitated with handwoven gamosas featuring turtle motifs — crafted by members of Kaso Sakhi, a local women's alternative livelihood group supported by WSAFI under its community livelihood initiative.

The Kaso Sakhi initiative is designed to provide sustainable income sources for communities living near the river, reducing their dependence on river-based livelihoods. The approach deliberately links biodiversity conservation with economic empowerment, recognising that long-term species recovery depends as much on community buy-in as on scientific breeding protocols.

Why Softshell Turtles Matter to River Ecosystems

Often described as the 'water vultures' of river systems, softshell turtles perform an outsized ecological role relative to their visibility. As scavengers, they break down organic waste and help maintain the cleanliness and health of aquatic environments, contributing to the broader ecological balance of river systems like the Brahmaputra. Their loss from a waterbody can set off a chain of ecosystem degradation that affects fish populations, water quality, and downstream communities alike.

What Comes Next

With more than a thousand hatchlings released since 2021 and a stable breeding pipeline now in place, conservationists are cautiously optimistic about the species' long-term prospects in Assam. The programme's next phase will likely focus on expanding protected release sites and monitoring survival rates in the wild — data that will determine whether the Black Softshell Turtle can eventually move off the 'Critically Endangered' list altogether.