Rear River Terrapin Turtle in Renukaji Lake

An old and Rear River Terrapin Turtle in Renukaji Lake. According to source there are about 120 Tortoise of the Endangered Species in Lake, although wild life department of HP Government have no data about numbers of River Terrapins. The river terrapin is one of the large Species of Turtle and its length is about 59 cm. After first small scientific study on Turtle of Renukaji in 2005, Dr. VC Murthi submitted his first detail research report to wild life department in September, 2010.  Senior Scientist of ZSI Kolkata Dr. VC Murti committed many days in 30 hectare lake to investigate about reptile and tortoise in 2010. Rear River Terrapin endures only in the rivers and lakes of Asian countries India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Indonesia etc. Exceptionally large concentrations of this species that resided in the Hugli River of West Bengal in India and the Ayeryawady Delta in Myanmar during the 19th and early 20th centuries are now extirpated. Nesting throughout the northern river terrapin’s former range is now extremely rare and the product of only a few scattered survivors. The terrapin’s demise has resulted from extensive exploitation of its flesh and eggs, exacerbated by indirect factors, including habitat alteration and destruction that have degraded the turtle’s nesting areas and feeding habitat. Recently, remnant populations have also suffered from the introduction of efficient mechanized fishing craft with lethal wide-area nets throughout much of the remaining habitat. Conservation action for the terrapin has been woefully inadequate. Ideally, the species and its eggs require complete protection throughout its range. In India and Bangladesh, extant terrapins now appear to be so few that unless some previously unknown viable population is discovered, the only recourse may be to capture as many of the remaining wild individuals as possible to keep in captive breeding facilities until such time as it is feasible to re-establish a wild population in one or more sanctuaries. Less is known about the species’ status in Myanmar. Peacock Soft-shell, Nilssonia-Hurum Turtle and rear Species of fish Mahasheer are also found in the lake. Renukaji is the largest natural Lake of Himachal Pradesh. The Lake is about 15,000 year old according to Dr. NK Meena senior scientist of Wadiya Institute Dehradun. Shape of lake is like a profile of women and circumference is about 3 KM. Renukaji was mother of Lord Parshuram and Bhawan Parshuram comes to Renukaji every year on Dashmi of Kartik month according to Hindu Dharam Granth/Volume/Books. People of area have a full faith in Lord and Ma Renukaji and on Dashmi/10^th day Kartik International Renuka festival had been celebrated since hundreds of year here. Natural beauty of about 450 hectare Wetland /Renuka forest attract traveler and tourist here. Lake, Lion Safari, Zoo, Parshuram Tal, Renu Manch, Kubja Saraye and Ashrams are main attractions and Historical place of Renukaji. Famous religious place Renukaji is 36 km from Nahan, 25 from Sangrah, 95 from Chandigarh and 315 km. from Delhi.