Bangladesh is home to significant herpetofauna diversity. Turtles and Tortoises are considered a vital part of this. Most of the terrestrial and aquatic turtle species are endangered due to habitat loss, over exploitation, illegal hunting, poaching, and pollution. Thus, some species are at the brink of extinction. To save these turtles, POJF has taken initiative along with Bangladesh Forest Department (BFD) by setting up a turtle breeding center at Bhawal National Park in Gazipur.
However, the risk associated with leaving a species at the mercy of poachers in their last remaining habitat is simply too high. In the meantime, Asian giant tortoises (Manouria emys), Arakan forest turtle (Heosemys depressa), and Elongated tortoises (Indotestudo elongata), formerly destined to be traded at foreign markets or consumed at local dinner tables, can find sanctuary in our Turtle Conservation Center, within the Bhawal National Park, Gazipur, Bangladesh. Safe from the hands of traders, these lucky individuals will breed with a profound purpose: to restock dwindling wild populations – once the forests of the Chittagong Hill Tracts are rendered safe.
