A team of early-career conservationists supported by CLP has rescued several globally threatened freshwater turtles and tortoises in and around Chitwan National Park, Nepal.
“Today, through this CLP project, it is inspiring to see a growing community network and many helping hands working together for turtle rescue and conservation.” – Sumana Chhetri, project team leader
Sumana Chhetri holds an Endangered Indian softshell turtle she and her team rescued and released back into the wild in collaboration with Chitwan National Park authorities © Sumana Chhetri
Supported by a 2025 CLP Future Conservationist Award, the team has rescued and released 10 turtles to date, nine of which are listed as globally threatened on the IUCN Red List. Most were being kept as pets (some just in a bucket) while one was trapped in a fishing hook and another was found stranded after a flash flood.
The rescued turtles included individuals of one Critically Endangered species, the elongated tortoise, and four Endangered species: Indian softshell turtle, Indian peacock turtle, tricarinate hill turtle, and Indian narrow-headed turtle.
The team rescued this Endangered tricarinate hill tortoise from a religious supplies store and released it back into the wild with help from Chitwan National Park authorities © Sumana Chhetri
Because turtles are legally protected species in Nepal, the team coordinates every rescue with the Chitwan National Park authorities before releasing the turtles back into the wild. Watch one of the rescues in the video below:
The rescues were possible through the team’s collaboration with a network of local community-based organisations, nature guides, and local leaders, the ‘Turtle Conservation Group’, formed as part of the CLP project, which now numbers around 50 members.
The network members and the families keeping turtles belong to the same community and speak the same local ethnic language, which helps build trust and makes conversation more open and easier.
A rescued turtle being released back into the wild © Sumana Chhetri
During the turtle rescue process, the network members explain the ecological importance of turtles and inform them about the legal provisions regarding turtle hunting and exploitation, of which many people were previously unaware. After understanding this, many families willingly agree to hand over the turtle.
Sumana said: “Seeing these threatened and overlooked freshwater turtles and tortoises safely returned to their natural habitat gives me hope that, with continued community support, turtles will one day receive the attention and protection they deserve.”
Get in touch: If you want to get involved in supporting locally-led priority projects like this, get in touch with us at clp@birdlife.org.