Bangladesh is rich with wetlands. Flowing waters of rivers like: Padma, Meghna, Jamuna etc. have created numerous freshwater wetlands throughout the country and hence Bangladesh is globally known as a riverine country. Here freshwater wetlands are rich with various species of flora and fauna. Turtles are a vital part of the biodiversity of these wetlands. They are mostly known as freshwater Turtles. A number of species of freshwater Turtles are there in Bangladesh. Among them Indian Flapshelled Turtle, Bostami Turtle, Spotted Pond Turtle, Asian Leaf Turtle, Common River Terrapin, Roofed Turtle etc. are remarkable. Indian Flapshelled Turtle is a common freshwater Turtle in Bangladesh. They can be seen in almost every freshwater wetlands of Bangladesh. They can be easily marked for their yellow head color and deep brown round spots on their back. They usually remain in shallow water of stagnant wetland. Bostami Turtle is another freshwater turtle. They are popular in our country due to religious value. These deep brown or olive brown Turtles are critically endangered in our country. Presently Bostami Turtles can only be seen in the pond of Hazrat Bayazid Bostami shrine in Chittagong. Legend has it that Hazrat Bayazid Bostami brought Bostami Turtles with Him when He visited Bangladesh for preaching. Accordingly, these Turtles were named after His name. Spotted Pond Turtles are another species of freshwater Turtle. They are also locally known as ‘Mogom’. They usually remain in stagnant water. Blackish these Turtles have yellow spots throughout their body. But they have more spots in their head & neck and hence they look beautiful. They have 3 notches on their back. Asian Leaf Turtles are the smallest Turtle species of Bangladesh. They can be seen in north-eastern and south-eastern evergreen forests. As the shape and color of their shell resemble tree leaf, they are called Leaf Turtles. These brown Turtles are very small in size and have spots throughout their body. They usually remain in hilly streams and rivers. Small number of Brahminy River Turtles can be seen in our Haors, Baors and Beels. They have dome-shaped back and yellowish black chest. Their head is bigger compared to the body. They can be easily marked for the yellowish-orange spots on both sides of their head. Roofed Turtles are smaller than Brahminy River Turtles. Their population is comparatively rich. These Brown Turtles have a reddish line on its back. If terrified, these harmless Turtles withdraw their head and legs into their shell. Common River Terrapin is a critically endangered Turtle species of Bangladesh. They usually roam in large rivers and estuaries. These brown Turtles have smaller head compared to their body. Depending on the season, both sexes of Common River Terrapin change color. Typically January to March is their breeding time. Their females lay eggs 3 times in a single breeding season and lay 50-60 eggs each time. The young take around 70 days to hatch out. Freshwater Turtles are vitally contributing in maintaining balance of aquatic ecosystem. While swimming they balance oxygen in various layers of water. They help in seed dispersal by feeding on aquatic plants, fruits and seeds. Moreover, they maintain environmental balance by feeding on fishes, frogs, insects, snails, oysters etc. and also keep the environment clean by feeding on rotten things. But due to reduced navigability of rivers, pollution, unplanned urbanization, deforestation etc. freshwater Turtles are declining in our country. Besides, people of some communities consume Turtles’ meat and eggs, making them critically endangered. If it continues like this, freshwater Turtles will disappear from our nature along with other dependent organisms and the whole aquatic ecosystem will become unbalanced. To conserve freshwater Turtles, we must stop illegal hunting and take apt initiatives to conserve water bodies. Only then our nature will be rich again with aquatic resources.

• published: 30 Sep 2014
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