A pond near a Shiva temple in Kanpur has become a safe haven to a thriving turtle population.
The pond was created when water bodies in India are either shrinking or getting completely 'washed out'. The pond is surrounded by a concrete jungle in Kanpur and??
religious Hindus feed the turtles living in it regularly.?
Turtles are endangered species and possessing or catching one is banned under India's Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.?
According to a local resident, Rajesh Pathak, 'The temple was built about 200 years ago and the pond is much older. There is a possibility that the turtles may also be very old but things are yet to be verified by a wildlife expert. Till date, no expert has visited the pond.'
He said that some of the turtles have shells as long as three feet long.?
Pathak added that once he tried to lift them but found them too heavy to pick up.?"Going by their size and weight, I think they are quite old," he said.
He is not sure of the number of turtles in the pond. "There may be hundreds in number," he said.
The surface of the pond is blackish-green in colour and is hard to believe that the pond supports a flourishing aquatic life.?
On Tuesdays, a large number of devotees gather at the pond because it is considered an auspicious day to feed turtles.?
"The turtle is much revered in Hindu mythology. It is mentioned in some texts that the earth rests on the back of a giant turtle. In some, it is written that the turtle is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Many Hindus believe feeding turtles will help them in getting salvation. Hence people feed them," said Pathak.
"Whatever may be the reason, it is good that if the people are feeding the turtles. Try to imagine what would happen if people stop feeding them. They may starve to death," he added.
"It is not unusual if a small turtle sneaks into a home but it is safely returned to the pond," said Pathak.
Some people have also tried to poach the turtles but were chased away by locals.?
A retired forest official has said that a flourishing turtle population in an unplanned city is a miracle.?
"Where in Kanpur can a person today see a turtle? Either in the zoo or in the Ganga," he said.
"Once, Kanpur had hundreds of ponds. Most of them have disappeared over the years. But if there is a pond that supports a big population of turtles, then it is something very unique. And we must remember that till date no government or any organisation has protected the pond or the turtles. Still, both have survived for such a long time. Steps must be taken to preserve the pond and the lives in it," the official added.
Rain is the only source of water for the pond at present. Pumps are installed that draw water from the ground and fill the pond. The water level in the pond will then remain constant throughout the year," said Pathak.