Gobinda Prasad Pokharel
It was a normal afternoon in my village home in Urlabari Municipality, Morang District. While walking along the roadside, I noticed something unusual — a tiny turtle barely 100 grams was struggling to move across the concrete path.
Its shell was soft and flexible and with a closer look, I realized it was the Indian Flapshell Turtle — locally called ‘पुतली कछुवा’ or Butterfly Turtle.
I carefully rescued and released it into the Beteni Wetland accompanied by local residents and members of the wetland management committee. Over the years, I’ve rescued and released more than a dozen turtles into the same wetland — each encounter a reminder of how important and precious these ancient beings are.
A Wetland Wanderer
The Indian Flapshell Turtle is typically found in wetlands, rivers, ponds, canals and paddy fields. It has a smooth shell and graceful swimming movements. In Nepal, it ranges from Jhapa in the east to Kanchanpur in the west, inhabiting riverbanks and marshy farmlands.
Releasing the turtle to its natural habitat with the wetland managment committee members.
In Nepal, keeping or trading turtles is strictly illegal. According to the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act (2029 BS), capturing, transporting, or rearing any wild animal without permission can result in fines up to NPR 1,000,000 or imprisonment for 5–15 years, or both.
The Oldest Yet Most Threatened
Turtles are among the oldest vertebrates on Earth existing for more than 200 million years. Ironically, they are now among the most threatened species, relying heavily on wetlands— habitats rapidly disappearing due to urbanization, pollution and encroachment.
Handover of the rescued turtle before releasing to the wetland area with Beteni Wetland Management Committee Members.
In Nepal, most native turtle species are classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, sharing the same threat level as the one-horned rhinoceros. According to IUCN reports, populations of the Indian Flapshell Turtle have declined by over 30% in the last 45 years, mainly due to habitat loss and illegal exploitation.
The Threat
In some local communities, these turtles are still hunted for food or used in traditional medicine, believed to have ‘energy-boosting’ properties. Research shows that the Indian Flapshell is one of South Asia’s most traded turtles. A 2017 study ranked it as the second most trafficked species in India, and in 2018, over 7,000 individuals were seized by Indian authorities.
The turtle
This species naturally occurs in Nepal, India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. It breeds toward the end of summer and during the monsoon season. Although the exact lifespan remains uncertain, its generation length is about 15 years. With a slow metabolism and growth rate, these turtles can live for decades. However, after hatching, the mother does not care for her young — each hatchling must survive on its own against predators and environmental challenges.
Our Responsibility
Sadly, illegal turtle trade still persists. Exotic species like the Red-eared Slider and Golden Indian Turtle are sold in Kathmandu’s markets and sometimes released into local ponds, disrupting native ecosystems. Many people keep turtles as symbols of good fortune, unknowingly fueling wildlife trafficking.
The Thumbnail of the artilce that was published in Onlinekhbar.com.
Every time I rescue a turtle and return it to its natural home, I’m reminded of the fragile connection between human life and nature. The Putali Kachuwa may be small, but it embodies millions of years of resilience — a silent survivor now facing extinction due to human neglect.
Saving it means saving the wetlands, rivers, and life cycles that sustain us all.
Read more on the article published in onlinekhbar in his link: ‘पुतली कछुवा’ पछ्याउँदा…