Black Soft-shell Turtle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black Soft-shell Turtle |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Nilssonia
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| Species: |
nigricans
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The black soft-shell turtle or Bostami turtle (Nilssonia nigricans) is a special kind of freshwater turtle. You can find it in parts of India (like Assam) and Bangladesh (in areas like Chittagong and Sylhet District). For a long time, people thought these turtles were just a type of Indian softshell turtle or Indian peacock softshell turtle. However, scientists later discovered that the Bostami turtle is its own unique species.
In the 1800s, it was believed that these turtles were brought from Iran to a shrine pond in Chittagong by a person named Hazrat Bayezid Bostami. The turtles in this pond were seen as sacred and were highly respected by local people.
Contents
A Turtle's Comeback Story
The Bostami turtle has an amazing comeback story. In 2002, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) sadly declared these turtles extinct. This meant they thought there were no more left in the wild.
Rediscovery in a Temple Pond
Luckily, this was not true! A group of these turtles was later found living in a temple pond. This pond is part of the Hayagriva Madhava Temple in Assam, India. This discovery gave hope for the species.
Working to Protect Them
Thanks to special conservation efforts and protection, some Bostami turtles can now be found in the wild again. Scientists and environmental biologists are working hard to protect this endangered species. They are also trying to save the natural places where these turtles live. Their goal is to make sure these unique turtles survive for many years to come.
Images for kids
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Visitors feeding the turtles in the pond.
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The Bayazid Bostami shrine with its pond.
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A Bostami turtle being fed by human visitors.
