According to the Forest department, the conservation of the endangered terrapin will be an extension of the ongoing Bhagabatpur crocodile project in Sunderbans.

“Batagurs usually get caught in fishermen nets. But in recent times, the fishermen say that these turtles have hardly been spotted. So, we have decided to go for a full-fledged conservation before they become extinct,” said SS Bist, principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife), Forest department.

Commonly referred to as Batagur, the terrapins inhabit the Sunderban mangroves of India and Bangladesh.

However, in recent times there have been fewer sightings of these once-thriving species of turtles in Sunderbans. It is believed that the species is already extinct in states like Orissa with almost zero sightings in recent times.

The rare turtle is included in Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act in India and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has also included the Batagur in its Red List of critically endangered species.

The turtles, which grow to over two feet in length, are often kept as pets. Olive grey in colour, Batagur baska can live up to 100 years.

Dr Sudhakar Kar, an eminent wildlife expert from Orissa and a member of the IUCN, has been consulted for the project.

The department is keen to undertake the project to “restock” Batagurs this winter itself. It has also allowed an NGO to carry out a survey of Batagur baska kept in captivity in villages.

“It is a highly endangered species which shares the same habitat as the estuarine crocodiles. There has been no sighting of Batagurs in Bhitarkanika in the last three decades. In Sunderbans, no assessment has been made so far. I believe it is the only region where the Batagur population still exists though the number is sharply dwindling,” said Kar.

There is very little knowledge about the reason behind the dwindling count of the endangered turtles.