Sundhi tortoise. Its English name is flapshell turtle, its scientific name is Lissemys punctata. Not found in saltwater. Freshwater is their habitat. Sundhi turtles have been seen in all the water bodies of the country before but now their number is less. In the dry season, if you irrigate canals, haors and baors for fish, you would see more than one tortoise. At present, this beneficial animal is endangered due to habitat destruction, poaching and water pollution.
According to zoologists, besides Bangladesh, turtles are also found in Nepal, Pakistan, India, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. Their breeding season is from March to August every year. As it is a freshwater tortoise, they came ashore at that time to lay eggs. Their food list includes aquatic plants and small animals.
Last Monday, a hunter named Panda Babu (48), son of Surir Das of Fenchuganj Upazila, was illegally hunting sundhi turtles at Bausi village in Bishwanath Upazila of Sylhet. Talking to him, he said that these are punishable under the Wildlife Conservation Act. He said he was not aware of this. He has been hunting turtles for 30-35 years as part of his livelihood. He said that although 10-12 turtles could be hunted in the previous day, now it is not possible to hunt more than 2-3 in a day.
Speaking on the issue, Shihab Khaledin, a research associate at the Nature and Life Foundation, told Bangladesh Pratidin that the Wildlife Act also provides for protection and punishment for poaching. If animals are endangered by nature, it will have an adverse effect on the environment. Therefore, there is a need to increase awareness among the locals for their conservation.
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