Rare turtle species discovered in Jhapa’s Jalthal jungle

June 16, Kathmandu: A rare species of turtle has been found in the Char Kose jungle of Jalthal in Jhapa. The discovery was made by Bibek Bastola, a member of the Pathibhara Kalika Community Forest User Group from Haldibari-4, who spotted the turtle near a cold-water spring close to the community forest on Sunday.

Bastola immediately informed his group about the rare find. According to ornithologist and wildlife researcher Asmit Subba, the turtle is identified as the Spotted Northern Indian Flap-shelled Turtle, a species found up to 400 meters elevation in Nepal’s Tarai region.

Subba noted that chromatic leucism in this species is extremely rare, and he had previously documented it during a study with ForestAction Nepal in the Jalthal forest. Chromatic leucism is a trait in nepalia condition where animals exhibit a partial or total lack of melanin, the pigment responsible for most colouration, resulting in a white or pale appearance. 

The turtle was handed over to officials from the Jalthal Sub-division Forest Office in Rangiyadanda by the Pathibhara Kalika Community Forest User Group, as confirmed by group chairman Sagar Portel.