Pune Forest Department Launches Turtle Rehabilitation Program For Rescues Across Maharashtra
Pune Forest Department Launches Turtle Rehabilitation Program For Rescues Across Maharashtra
PUNE: The Pune Forest Department has launched a new initiative to rehabilitate turtles rescued across Maharashtra, excluding Vidarbha, as part of a species-specific conservation approach. This rehabilitation effort will focus on six species of freshwater turtles and will take place at the Transit Treatment Centre (TTC) in Bavdhan, Pune.
The program will progress through four phases: data collection and planning, transfer of turtles from district facilities to the TTC, quarantine and rehabilitation, and, finally, the release of rehabilitated turtles back into their natural habitats. Data collection for the program began in October through an online platform shared with forest offices, NGOs, and conservationists across Maharashtra, aiming to rehabilitate between 400 and 500 turtles in the first phase.
In collaboration with the RESQ Charitable Trust, the Pune forest department will manage the logistics, health care, and rehabilitation protocols for these turtles, with processes approved by the chief wildlife warden. Deputy Conservator of Forests Tushar Chavan emphasized the importance of this facility, noting that many of these turtles were rescued from illegal trade and trafficking. He said, “Previously, we had to rely on NGOs for turtle care due to a lack of facilities, but the TTC in Pune now allows us to provide direct rehabilitation.”
Once rehabilitated, the turtles will be reintroduced into suitable habitats in coordination with local forest departments, even if these lie outside Maharashtra. A specialized “turtle collection team,” consisting of veterinarians, wildlife handlers, and forest staff, will ensure each turtle is safely transported to the TTC, with proper quarantine measures for those requiring medical care.
- Targeted Turtle Species
- 1. Indian Star Tortoise (Geochelone elegans)
- 2. Indian Roofed Turtle (Pangshura tecta)
- 3. Spotted Pond Turtle (Geoclemys hamiltonii)
- 4. Indian Tent Turtle (Pangshura tentoria)
- 5. Crowned River Turtle (Hardella thurjii)
- 6. Brown Roofed Turtle (Pangshura smithii)
This program, funded and managed by the Pune forest department and its partners, is a vital step in protecting Maharashtra’s native turtle populations and addressing challenges in their conservation.
