Guwahati, Oct 16 Two rare turtles were rescued by locals and the forest department from Assam’s Tinsukia district, Minister for Environment and Forests Jayanta Malla Baruah said on Friday.
A rare turtle, spotted moving along the Digboi–Tingrai–Doomdooma road in the district, was rescued by locals with assistance from the Doomdooma forest department, Baruah said in a post on X.
The turtle was spotted moving beside the road connecting Tingrai and Doomdooma, where it faced the risk of being struck by passing vehicles, he said.
A juvenile Indian softshell turtle (Nilssonia hurum) in Raidang village under the Doomdooma Forest Division a day earlier. The young turtle was found near a house and was attempting to cross a road when it was rescued with the support of Forest department personnel, he said.
”These incidents remind us that wildlife often moves through human-dominated landscapes, where roads, settlements and traffic can put vulnerable animals at risk. A timely alert and a careful rescue can make the difference between life and death,” Baruah said.
Turtles, birds, reptiles and other lesser-seen species are all essential parts of Assam’s rich biodiversity with every rescue an opportunity to protect that natural heritage and strengthen the bond between local communities and wildlife conservation teams.
“We urge people to remain alert when they encounter wildlife near roads or homes. Please do not harm, capture or handle unfamiliar wild animals but inform the Forest department so that trained personnel can respond safely,” the minister said.
Baruah said that the forest department’s mission remains the same- to protect, rescue and give every life a chance to survive.
(PTI News)
