Rare turtle discovered by Portsmouth conservationists in India

The first breeding population of an "incredibly rare" turtle has been discovered in India.

Conservationists, including from the University of Portsmouth, uncovered the nesting site of the "secretive" Cantor's giant softshell turtle.

The species, which is native to the rivers of south and south-east Asia, is classified as critically endangered.

The elusive turtle was found on the banks of the Chandragiri River in Kerala, southern India.

The study, published in the journal Oryx, was led by conservationists from the University of Portsmouth and Zoological Society of London in England, University of Miami, Museum of Zoology at the Senckenberg Society for Nature Research in Germany, Florida Museum of Natural History in the US, and Wildlife Institute of India.

A University of Portsmouth spokesman said the species was "known for its rarity and secretive nature", adding it had "long been a subject of fascination and concern among conservationists".

Dr Francoise Cabada-Blanco, from the university's school of biological sciences, said: "For years, the Cantor turtle's existence has barely been a murmur against the backdrop of India's bustling biodiversity, with sightings so scarce that the turtle's very presence seemed like a ghost from the past."

Following several unsuccessful attempts at tracking them down, using conventional ecological survey methods, the research team took a different approach - using local knowledge and historical sightings to piece together the exact location of the nest.

Dr Cabada-Blanco said the team was able to "engage the community really effectively", with locals sharing tales of historical sightings, and even "aiding in the live release of individuals accidentally caught as by-catch".

Ayushi Jain, from the Zoological Society of London's Edge of Existence programme, added: "Through household interviews and the establishment of a local alert network, we did not just listen; we learned.

"The community's willingness to engage formed the backbone of our project, allowing us to record not just fleeting glimpses of the turtles but evidence of a reproductive population—a discovery that rewrites the narrative of a species thought to be vanishing from India's waters."

The work led to the first documentation of a female nest and the rescue of eggs from flooded nests. Hatchlings were later released into the river.

Cantor's giant softshell turtles live in freshwater, with individuals known to reach more than 1m (3ft) in length and weigh more than 100kg (220lb).

The team is now working to set up a community hatchery and nursery near to the discovery site.

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