Anirudh Vasava - Voluntary Nature Conservancy, ۱۰۱-Radha Darshan, Behind Union Bank, Vallabh Vidyanagar-۳۸۸۱۲۰, Gujarat, India
Raju Vyas - Shashwat Apartment, ۲۳ Anadnagar Society, BPC Haveli Road, Alkapuri, Vadodara- ۳۹۰۰۰۷, Gujarat, India
Vishal Mistry - Voluntary Nature Conservancy, ۱۰۱-Radha Darshan, Behind :union: Bank, Vallabh Vidyanagar-۳۸۸۱۲۰, Gujarat, India
Pradhyuman Sindha - Voluntary Nature Conservancy, ۱۰۱-Radha Darshan, Behind :union: Bank, Vallabh Vidyanagar-۳۸۸۱۲۰, Gujarat, India

The freshwater ecosystems in Gujarat State, in the western part of India, are important habitats for various freshwater turtles. In the light of the lack of information on survival and the morality of the freshwater turtles, here, we have presented new information on threats scenarios of the Indian Flap-shelled turtle Lissemys punctata (Bonnaterre) and species mass mortalities observed in some water bodies of the Gujarat State. Approximately ۱۰۷۱ specimens of L. punctata and three specimens of the Ganges Soft-shelled turtle Nilssonia gangetica (Cuvier), along with large numbers of many other species of reptiles and fishes were recorded dead within a span of five years from January ۲۰۱۶ to December ۲۰۲۰. In some of the cases, the circumstantial evidence suggests that entanglement and trapping in the fish net could have been the reason, but large number of the deaths remained mysterious. This mysterious sudden death of aquatic reptiles in various water bodies of the state is of serious concern. We also discuss the possible explanation for these mysterious deaths.

Freshwater turtles, Gujarat, reptiles, Testudiens, unnatural deaths