Giant Batagur Turtles Make a Comeback in the Sundarbans

There was a time when a massive turtle gliding through the rivers and estuaries of Bangladesh would leave onlookers in awe. Weighing nearly 25 to 27 kilograms, the species known as Batagur baska—locally called the “Nodir Kaitta Kachhopa”—was once a majestic presence across the Sundarbans and the river systems of South and Southeast Asia. Today, the species’ survival depends on just a few dozen breeding adults. However, after years of conservation efforts by the Forest Department and international researchers, this once-vanished river giant is seeing a remarkable return to life.