NAG SHANKAR TEMPLE BECOMES MODEL FOR TURTLE CONSERVATION
Background
- Nagshankar temple in Assam’s Biswanath district has been designated as a model temple for turtle conservation.
- The recognition was announced during an event held on May 23, 2025, coinciding with World Turtle Day.
EVENTS & ORGANISERS
- The event was organised by multiple stakeholders including:
- Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve
- Assam State Zoo
- Nagshankar Temple Committee
- DBT-NER Biotech Hub, Chaiduar College
- Conservation groups like Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) Foundation India, Aaranyak, and Help Earth
- Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve
- Local MLA Padma Hazarika officially acknowledged the temple on behalf of the community and authorities.
CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE & CONSERVATION EFFORTS
- In Assam, turtles have traditionally been conserved in temple ponds as they are believed to be reincarnations of Lord Vishnu.
- The turtles at Nagsankar temple, maintained by TSA, are considered some of the best conserved in the state.
Conservation Efforts at Nag Shankar
- Nagsankar temple promotes turtle conservation at the grassroots level, making it a model for other temples.
- Activities at the event included the release of a freshwater turtle identification brochure to educate the public.
- The temple also honoured ‘Kaso Mitras’—community members acting as turtle guardians.
ECOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE OF TURTLES
- Turtles are called the “vultures of the aquatic ecosystem” because they clean water bodies by scavenging on dead and decomposed matter.
- Protecting turtles is crucial for maintaining healthy aquatic ecosystems, as highlighted by Anjali Das, president of Kaso Sakhi, a women’s weavers’ group supported by TSA that creates turtle motif handloom products.
BIODIVERSITY AT NAG SHANKAR TEMPLE
- The temple premises include a large pond that has 250-300 turtles belonging to some of the world’s rarest species.
- Some of these turtles are believed to be hundreds of years old.
- The Nagshankar conservation project sustains 13 species of freshwater turtles, categorized by their conservation status according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN):
| Species | Scientific Name | IUCN Status |
| Black softshell turtle | Nilssonia nigricans | Critically Endangered |
| Assam roofed turtle | Pangshura sylhetensis | Critically Endangered |
| Indian softshell turtle | Nilssonia gangetica | Endangered |
| Peacock softshell turtle | Nilssonia hurum | Endangered |
| Indian narrow-headed softshell | Chitra indica | Endangered |
| Spotted pond turtle | Geoclemys hamiltonii | Endangered |
| Tricarinate hill turtle | Melanochelys tricarinata | Endangered |
| Indian flapshell turtle | Lisemmys punctata | Vulnerable |
| Indian roofed turtle | Pangshura tecta | Vulnerable |
| Brown roofed turtle | Pangshura smithii | Near Threatened |
| Assam leaf turtle | Cyclemys gemeli | Near Threatened |
| Indian tent turtle | Pangshura tentoria | Least Concern |
| Indian black turtle | Melanochelys trijuga | Least Concern |
ABOUT NAG SHANKAR TEMPLE
- Nagsankar Temple is an ancient Hindu shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva.
- Located on the north bank of the river Brahmaputra, within the administrative district of Biswanath, Assam.
Historical Significance
- The temple is believed to have been originally built by King Narasankar of Nagakha in the 4th century AD.
- It was later restored by the Ahom king Su-sen-pha in 1480.
Biodiversity on Campus
- The temple campus is also home to other animals such as:
- Peacocks
- Deer
- Pythons
SIGNIFICANCE
- The temple combines religious, historical, and ecological importance, making it a unique cultural heritage site.
- The turtle conservation efforts here reflect traditional reverence and modern environmental stewardship.
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