Mystery shrouds death of Tripureswari turtles

AGARTALA, April 2 : Mystery shrouds the death of sacred turtles at Tripureswari Matabari temple as wildlife experts are still groping in the dark to ascertain the exact cause of death. For the ages hundreds of turtles at Kalyansagar in Tripureswari temple, one of the 51 ?peeths?, are one of the main attractions for devotees and tourists as well. Turtles are considered sacred and part of the ?peethastan? their well-being also comes as a duty of the ?sebayet? of the temple the South Tripura district magistrate. Recently, several sacred turtles at Kalyansagar were found dead which created commotion in the public. A preliminary inquiry was carried out and it was suspected that pollution in the pond and dumping of polytheme packs like substances by unscrupulous elements despite strict ban might have caused the death of the turtles. But, the wildlife experts were not satisfied. They sought to undertake post mortem of the turtles which was granted by the temple trust against the age-old tradition.

The Tripureswari temple was built 502 years ago and since then dead turtles are buried with all necessary rituals.

The post mortem also could not specifically ascertain the exact cause of deaths. A senior wildlife official here said the help of State Forensic laboratory at Narasinghar, near Agartala, will now be sougth. ?But it seems that the turtles? deaths occured due to drastic changes in and around Kalyansagar,? he opined. Though turtles pass their time in the pond, they also come out of water in the land for accessory functions like breeding and breathing. ?Due to the construction of a swimming pool some time ago, the turtles could not find a secure resting place in the land,? he observed and added that wildlife experts had warned of the results that might follow for such construction which went unheeded. The wildlife officers are of the opinion that regular inbreeding among the turtles also resulted in loss of vigour and vitality. ?There were human activities in the past around the Kalayansagar but darge-scale deaths of turtles were not reported. Now it seems that ecological changes and other hostile exogenous and indigenous factors have turned turtles vulnerable,? he said.