A sanctuary turned death trap: Turtles flee poisoned waters of Kajalheri

For years, the pond at Kajalheri village in Haryana’s Fatehabad was a safe haven for hundreds of rare turtles. Today, the same waters are forcing them to flee for their lives.

The Shri Guru Gorakhnath Community Reserve, notified by the Haryana Government in 2019, is home to an estimated 150–200 Indian Softshell, Red-roofed and Indian Peacock turtles. But the sanctuary, where the reptiles once came to breed and lay eggs, has allegedly turned into a toxic habitat because of untreated sewage and neglect by the authorities.

The species found here enjoy the highest level of statutory protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, at par with the tiger and rhinoceros. They are also listed as threatened species under the IUCN Red List.