22) ~Black Soft-shell Turtle~

More about 22) ~Black Soft-shell Turtle~

**Black Soft-shell Turtle - Nilssonia nigricans

Range: Northeastern India (Assam) and parts of Bangladesh

Status: Critically Endangered (IUCN Red List)

Description & Behavior:
The Black Soft-shell Turtle, locally known as the “Mohani Pakhi” or “Bormona Tortoise”, is a dark, river-dwelling freshwater turtle once believed to be extinct in the wild.
It has a broad, leathery carapace (shell) that lacks the hard scutes of typical turtles, giving it a smooth, rubbery texture. Its coloration ranges from deep olive to near-black, helping it blend seamlessly with the muddy riverbeds it inhabits.

This turtle’s most striking features are its flat body and tubular snout, perfectly adapted for its secretive aquatic life - allowing it to breathe while buried under sediment.
Mostly nocturnal, it feeds on fish, snails, aquatic plants, and organic debris, playing a vital role in keeping freshwater ecosystems clean.

A Sacred Survivor:
For centuries, these turtles were protected unknowingly within temple ponds in Assam and Bangladesh, where they were considered holy reincarnations of lost souls.
One of the most famous sanctuaries is the Hayagriva Madhava Temple pond in Hajo, Assam, where the turtles have lived for hundreds of years, fed by monks and devotees.

However, the turtles in these ponds are semi-domesticated, surviving only due to human care.
Wild populations are now almost gone, making the Black Soft-shell Turtle one of the rarest reptiles on Earth.

Threats:
The Black Soft-shell Turtle’s decline is a tragic result of human activity and habitat loss:

Wetland destruction for agriculture and urbanization.

Pollution and siltation of river systems.

Overharvesting for meat and religious offerings.

Hybridization with other soft-shell species in temple ponds, threatening pure genetic lines.

Lack of awareness - many don’t realize the temple turtles are an endangered species.

As of recent conservation surveys, there are fewer than 10 confirmed wild individuals, and about a few hundred in temple ponds, many of which are hybrids.

Conservation Efforts:
In 2011, herpetologists rediscovered small wild populations in the Karnaphuli River Basin (Bangladesh) - an astonishing find after decades of presumed extinction.

The Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA), IUCN, and Bangladesh Forest Department have started captive breeding programs to restore genetically pure lineages.

Awareness campaigns in temple communities now encourage monks to protect and not release hybrids into wild habitats.

Rewilding initiatives in Assam and Chattogram Hill Tracts aim to establish self-sustaining populations.

Despite the odds, the Black Soft-shell Turtle symbolizes hope rising from faith and science working together - a reminder that even in sacred ponds, extinction can be reversed.

Quick Facts:
Common Name: Black Soft-shell Turtle
Family: Trionychidae
Lifespan: Up to 70 years
Size: 60-90 cm (shell length)
Weight: Up to 30 kg