Kanpur: In a significant development at Kanpur Zoo, twenty-five hatchlings of rare and critically endangered Batagur turtles emerged on Tuesday, ending a nine-year period of breeding.
An official said the zoo received 19 turtles, two males and 17 females, from Chambal in 2017. One male was later sent to another zoo, leaving 18 turtles. The officials said that following Tuesday’s hatching, the Batagur turtle population rose from 18 to 43.
Because insufficient sand in the enclosures prevented eggs from developing safely, however, breeding was hindered. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Kanpur | Silver Rate in Kanpur | Bank Holidays in Kanpur | Public Holidays in Kanpur | Kanpur AQI | Weather in Kanpur | Petrol Price in Kanpur | Diesel Price in Kanpur | CNG Price in Kanpur | LPG Price in Kanpur Stay updated with the latest Kanpur news.
The hatchlings are under special monitoring, according to zoo authorities. Patel said a zookeeper had been assigned special duty to watch the turtles. Finding a suitable environment for breeding, the female turtles laid eggs in the sand about two months ago, and the zoo administration monitored them continuously. Download the TOI App.
Last year, director Dr Kanhaiya Patel ordered a thick layer of sand laid in the enclosures.