Agartala: The Tripura government has approved funding for a comprehensive year-long research initiative focused on the Bostami turtles residing in Kalyan Sagar Lake. This significant lake is situated in front of the revered Mata Tripura Sundari Temple in Udaipur, located within the Gomati District.
The Tripura Sundari Temple, a highly venerated Hindu shrine and one of the 51 Shaktipeethas in India, stands in southern Udaipur, the historical capital of the Tripura princely state. Positioned approximately 55 kilometers from the present capital, Agartala, the temple’s location atop a turtle-shaped hillock enhances both its spiritual aura and its ecological importance.
The Bostami turtle, a species once indigenous to this area, is currently classified as “Extinct in the Wild” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The continued existence of a population within the confines of Kalyan Sagar Lake has become a focal point for conservationists and environmental advocates.
Gomati District Magistrate Tarit Kanti Chakma, in a statement, emphasized the importance of the study and protection efforts for the Bostami turtles for both the Forest Department and the Gomati District Administration.
“A thorough study will be conducted to ascertain the present population of Bostami turtles within Kalyan Sagar. Typically, hatching coincides with the arrival of the monsoon. These young turtles are observed and subsequently released back into the lake. However, precise population figures are unavailable due to a lack of recent scientific investigations. This newly sanctioned project will extend over a period of one year,” he stated.
The District Magistrate further revealed that a preliminary site visit was conducted today in anticipation of the upcoming fieldwork to be undertaken by the Turtle Survival Alliance Foundation. “The State Government has already committed the necessary funds for this crucial one-year study,” he confirmed.