Through his sustained dedication and commitment Dr. Shailendra Singh of India has been able to bring about a turnaround in the survival and growth of three turtle species
Marine Acquatic Biologist Dr. Shailendra Singh of India has been awarded the 16th annual Behler Turtle Conservation for bringing a certain level of balance of three critically endangered turtle species in India.
Through his sustained dedication and commitment, Dr. Singh has been able to bring about a turnaround in the survival and growth of three turtle species: The Red Crowned Roof Turtle (Batagur Kachgua), the Northern River Terrapin (Batagur Baska) and the Black Soft-Shell Turtle (Nilssonia Nigrican)
Dr. Singh is regarded globally as an authority on the Red Crowned Roof Turtle. This particular species was the subject of his doctoral research and studies.Prior to that Dr Singh had done his MSc on Gharials (Gavialis Gangeticus)
Dr Singh spearheads Wildlife Conservation Society’s (WCS) India Turtle Conservation Programme and has been instrumental in implementing over 167 conservation, research and education projects across the country.
In his congratulatory message Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) President said: “while it may take decades to witness the full impact of Dr. Singh’s commitment, his name and his legacy have become synonymous with turtle conservation”.
His interest in turtles goes back to his childhood days when he had two Indian Roofed Turtles – Tom and Tinky – as pets. Later when he came to know that it was illegal, he released them into their proper habitat.
Born in a remote village, close to the Katerniaghat Sanctuary along the Indo-Nepal border, Dr Singh is the first Indian biologist to receive the Disney Conservation Hero Award in 2008. He is also a Vice Chair of IUCN Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group and IUCN SSC Crocodile Specialist Group among several other International and national conservation committees
His interest in turtles goes back to his childhood days when he had kept two Indian Roofed Turtles – Tom and Tinky – as pets. Later when he came to know that it was illegal, he released them into their proper habitat. Living in such close proximity to a wildlife sanctuary kindled his interest in wildlife and nature.
In later years even though, he was selected as a trainee officer in the Border Security Force, he opted for his first love – Wildlife conservation.
His conservation work covers all threatened freshwater turtles and tortoises in India. This includes species like northern river terrapin, red crowned roofed turtle, narrow headed softshell turtle, crowned river turtle, black softshell turtle, Assam roofed turtle, Asian brown tortoise, impressed tortoise, and many more. He is also working on Crocodile Conservation project and Gangetic River Dolphin Rescue project.
The major threats that Dr Singh has to deal in his conservation regarding freshwater fauna – turtles, crocodiles, fish and river dolphins – are diverse challenges. They include Illegal trade, habitat degradation and human conflicts.
The Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) operates or supports projects in 10 countries to help save imperiled tortoise and turtle species. These countries are: Bangladesh, Belize, Cambodia, China, Colombia, India, Madagascar, Myanmar, Sumatra and Vietnam.
It directly impacts the survival of 20 out of the 25 topmost endangered tortises and freshwater turtles and also benefits 38per cent of the the Earth’s species
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