Bangladesh is one of the most turtle rich countries in south asia with over 25 recorded species

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, through its Marine Turtle Conservation Fund (CFDA 15.645) program, awarded a $135,413 project grant to the Turtle Survival Alliance Foundation. This grant, effective from August 1, 2024 to July 31, 2027, will support conservation efforts for six highly threatened tortoise and freshwater turtle species in Bangladesh. The Turtle Survival Alliance Foundation will utilize a three-pronged approach of conservation breeding, rewilding, and community engagement to ensure the survival of these imperiled South Asian turtle species, which include the Asian Giant Tortoise, Arakan Forest Turtle, Elongated Tortoise, Black Softshell Turtle, Indian Narrow Headed Softshell Turtle, and Crowned River Turtle. This project builds on the organization's prior successful conservation work in Bangladesh, including the establishment of a breeding facility and reintroduction of Asian Giant Tortoises with a 70% survival rate.

Of those 25 species 21 are listed as globally threatened. Since 2015 turtle survival alliance has been supporting turtle conservation in bangladesh. Here we propose expanding conservation efforts to ensure the survival of six highly threatened tortoise and freshwater turtle species in bangladesh. The six species are 1. Asian giant tortoise 2. Arakan forest turtle 3. Elongated tortoise 4. Black softshell turtle 5. Indian narrow headed softshell turtle 6. Crowned river turtle. The alliance utilizes a three pronged approach to turtle and tortoise conservation 1. Conservation breeding 2. Rewilding 3. Community engagement. This method has proven successful in restoring and protecting turtle and tortoise populations globally. A conservation breeding facility has already been established with three critically endangered forest dwelling species. Reintroduction has been initiated with asian giant tortoises with 70 percent survival rate of the first cohort of reintroduced tortoises. Zero poaching of the reintroduced tortoises was achieved by engaging the communities with culturally appropriate livelihood incentives and by employing former hunters as parabiologists. This proposal will expand on and continue our work for the conservation of these incredible south asian turtle species. This work is critical to the survival of these six species in bangladesh where they would certainly be extirpated without our conservation and education actions.