Pune Forest Department to Release 448 Turtles Back into the Wild After Successful Rehabilitation
Pune Forest Department to Release 448 Turtles Back into the Wild After Successful Rehabilitation
The Pune Forest Department is set to release 448 turtles back into their natural habitats after a successful rehabilitation program. The initiative began in November, when nearly 478 turtles were rescued from various forest departments in western Maharashtra and admitted to the Transit Treatment Centre (TTC) in Bavdhan for care.
The turtles had been kept in captivity after being rescued in various operations. While 38 of the turtles succumbed to a metabolic bone condition, the remaining ones have shown significant improvement. These turtles underwent a structured rehabilitation process at the TTC, including primary treatment and multi-phase care.
Now, with the turtles ready for release, the department has identified five locations across the Godavari River basin for their return to the wild. The release will occur in four to five phases, with the majority of the turtles being returned in Maharashtra. Some will also be released in other states such as Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Assam. The process is expected to be completed by the end of February.
Tushar Chavan, Deputy Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) with the Pune Forest Department, mentioned that while the release procedure has already started in Maharashtra, discussions are underway with forest agencies in other states. There are no current plans to initiate a second phase of this program, though it may be revisited in the future if needed.
