Guwahati: The rescue and rehabilitation of an injured Tricarinate Hill Turtle from the Brahmaputra has drawn attention to the conservation concerns surrounding one of Assam’s relatively little-known and threatened turtle species.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on X on Sunday that an injured turtle had been rescued after being swept away by upstream floods. Following treatment, the animal was released back into a freshwater habitat.
The species, scientifically known as Melanochelys tricarinata, gets its name from the three distinct longitudinal ridges running along its dark, strongly domed shell. Despite being called a hill turtle, it is largely terrestrial and is found in moist deciduous and evergreen forests, riverine grasslands and areas around streams.
The turtle is relatively small, with a carapace measuring around 174 mm, and is regarded as a rare species about which scientific information remains limited.
Assam is considered an important habitat for the Tricarinate Hill Turtle. The species has been recorded in areas including Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, Orang National Park, Kaziranga National Park, Manas Tiger Reserve, Sonapur, and the Biswanath plains. Surveys have also reported its presence across the Kaziranga and Manas landscapes, although detailed data on its population and long-term trends remain scarce.
Conservation concerns have grown in recent years. A 2025 study published in Scientific Reports placed the species in the Endangered category, identifying habitat loss and degradation among the major threats to its survival. Illegal collection, consumption, capture for the pet trade and other forms of exploitation also put additional pressure on populations.
The degradation of Assam’s wetlands and river systems poses another challenge. Pollution, the drying of beels, urban expansion, encroachment and the conversion of grasslands can reduce and fragment suitable habitats. Forest and stream ecosystems are also under pressure, while poaching and accidental entanglement in fishing equipment can cause direct harm to turtles.
Climate-related changes could further compound these threats. Shifts in rainfall, increasingly unpredictable flooding and rising temperatures may affect breeding conditions, shelter and the availability of food across the species’ habitat.
The rescue of the turtle also underlines the role of local communities in wildlife protection. Community participation can help identify injured or displaced animals and support conservation efforts beyond protected areas.
Conservation experts say protecting wetlands, grasslands and forest corridors, strengthening measures against illegal collection and improving population monitoring will be important to safeguard the Tricarinate Hill Turtle and preserve Assam’s rich freshwater and terrestrial biodiversity.