💫 In Search of the Black Softshell Turtle - a story from the field by CLP alumna, Daisy Das
Originally published by @herp_club - this is a story like no other. Believe us when we tell you that this story will leave you feeling awestruck and inspired by the dedication and drive of our conservation leaders 💚
The story starts by sailing us along the mighty Brahmaputra River in Assam, India, a rich habitat home to a variety of wildlife including Pallas eagles, Ganges dolphins and ... one of the protagonists in this story... the black softshell turtle.
Previously declared extinct in 2002, these turtles were - amazingly - still found to exist in a few temple ponds (changing its status to Critically Endangered).
These freshwater reptiles had been brought to the temples in the 1800s. Treated as sacred and respected by the public, devotees would take them from the wild and donate them to temples for blessings. Yet poaching and illegal trade had also decimated the wild populations.
This is where we meet conservationist and CLP alumna, @phoenix_daisy13. Supported by CLP in 2021, Daisy and her team set out to search for what she calls "wild treasure" - the rare and elusive black softshell turtle - in a survey that covered the entire 200km stretch of the Brahmaputra-Subansiri River.
Did wild populations still exist? And if they did, where were they and in what numbers? What was the survey like and what other "wild treasures" did the team find?
Visit our website to find out and read the rest of Daisy's story, including the very satisfying ending (see if you can spot the clue in the photos).
#WeAreCLP #ConservationLeadershipProgramme #ConservationHeroes #India #Reptile #Turtle #Conservation
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5 days ago
If you are a 2025 CLP Team Award applicant, don't forget to contact one of our Alumni Reviewers to get help with your application!
Our Alumni Reviewers are previous CLP award-winners and experienced conservationists from various countries who have volunteered their time to offer valuable feedback on your proposals, including insights on clarity, grammar, feasibility, and research design.
Feedback from Reviewers may enhance your proposal but it is not mandatory to contact Reviewers for feedback. Your proposals can be sent to Alumni Reviewers until September 23, 2024.
Visit our website to find more information, including specific details and Alumni Reviewers' profiles: www.conservationleadershipprogramme.org/grants/grant-overview/future-conservationist-award/
Please review these profiles to find the Reviewer who best matches your proposal before contacting them. Please contact only one Reviewer at a time.
Good luck!
#WeAreCLP
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2 weeks ago
