Team HEAL Rescues Turtles from a Dried-up Pond in Baneshwar, Cooch Behar

03 April 2024

On 03 April, 2024, our team in Cooch Behar district, led by Zonal Coordinator Ardhendu Banik, undertook a rescue operation, saving 53 turtles from a dried-up pond in Baneshwar.

During the summer months, many animals undergo aestivation, characterized by inactivity and a low metabolic rate in response to rising temperatures. Softshell turtles aestivate inside burrows made in moist mud to protect against complete desiccation as water levels reduce in their habitats.

But this year, circumstances were very different. Baneshwar witnessed unprecedented heat, causing several ponds with low water levels to dry up completely. In one such pond, the pond substrate, devoid of any moisture, had cracked up completely, exposing the aestivating turtles to scorching heat.

Three turtles had succumbed to dehydration, and many others, particularly smaller turtles, were facing a similar fate due to their inability to escape from the dried and hardened mud. With rains not in sight and temperatures constantly surging, our team was compelled to intervene.

Ardhendu, along with the other team members, in presence of the forest department, diligently searched for and rescued as many turtles as possible. The surviving turtles were relocated to a nearby pond with sufficient water levels.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Anirban Das, Shubhankar Sen, Jatan Sarkar, Sanjoy Roy, Bikram Shil and Pankaj Roy for their swift action in mitigating this threat to the turtles, providing them with a new chance at life.