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
  • 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.