Participatory Turtle Conservation along the Saryu River

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Community-Integrated Conservation in the Terai Arc Landscape

The Terai Arc Landscape along the Himalayan foothills is a global chelonian hotspot, supporting nearly half of India’s freshwater turtle diversity, including critical populations of the Crowned River Turtle (Hardella thurjii) and the Indian Narrow-headed Softshell Turtle (Chitra indica). To counter threats from illegal hunting and poaching, Wildlife Survival Alliance Foundation India established a socially integrated, community-led conservation program. Anchored by our dedicated Community Education and Outreach Center at Chudipurwa, WSAFI combines continuous field monitoring with "poacher-to-guardian" conversion workshops, skill development, and alternative livelihood programs to foster long-term local stewardship.

Flowing through Uttar Pradesh's Terai region, the Ghaghra-Saryu River system is a designated priority turtle conservation corridor harboring key threatened species, including the largest documented wild population of H. thurjii. WSAFI’s on-ground field teams conduct long-term demographic surveys and nesting phenology studies along critical river stretches. This scientific tracking is directly coupled with community sensitization, ensuring high-density nesting sandbanks are protected during peak breeding seasons.