Uttar Pradesh to establish its first ‘turtle conservation reserve’ in Sarju river

Uttar Pradesh to establish its first ‘turtle conservation reserve’ in Sarju river.
Uttar Pradesh’s forest department is set to establish a turtle conservation reserve in the Sarju River.
Sarju River, a tributary of Ghaghra, in the Gonda district is known for “rich turtle diversity”.
A 2 km stretch of river Sarju has been proposed for the reserve. It is also rich in species of plants, birds, fish, and water snakes.
Sarju is the only river in India where nine turtle species are found. Eight of these are listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act.
A management plan for an initial period of 10 years will be implemented for not only conserving turtles but also 30 species of fish and 50 species of birds.
The management plan will also lay special emphasis on protecting the river stream from pollution.
The population of the endangered crowned river turtle has decreased drastically in the past two decades.