The Tripura government has approved funds for a year-long scientific study of the rare Bostami turtles found in Kalyan Sagar Lake, located near the famous Mata Tripura Sundari Temple in Udaipur, Gomati District. The study will be conducted by the Turtle Survival Alliance Foundation to assess the current status of the turtles, which are listed as “Extinct in the Wild” by the IUCN. Despite this, a surviving population continues to thrive in the sacred lake, drawing interest from environmentalists and devotees alike.
Gomati District Magistrate Tarit Kanti Chakma said, “The Forest Department and the District Administration consider the conservation of Bostami turtles a high priority. The study will help determine the turtle population and improve protection methods.” Located about 55 km from Agartala, the Tripura Sundari Temple is one of India’s 51 Shaktipeethas and stands on a hill shaped like a turtle, further adding to the lake’s spiritual and ecological importance.
Preliminary groundwork for the study has already begun, with the Foundation expected to start detailed fieldwork soon. Hatchlings, which typically emerge during the monsoon, will be closely monitored as part of the conservation effort.
