Since 2014, efforts have been made under the Namami Gange Programme to clean the Ganga and rejuvenate the river network.
The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and the Ministry of Forest collaborated with the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) to establish a turtle breeding and rehabilitation center in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
Various turtle species, including herbivorous and carnivorous turtles, help in cleaning the river by clearing debris such as rotten or half-burnt human bodies and dumped flowers.
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Turtles play a role in improving the water quality of the Ganga as they feed on meat and waste products present in the river.
Assessments of water quality have shown improvements in biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), fecal coliform (FC), and dissolved oxygen (DO) levels.
The long-term impact of turtles on the river ecosystem is yet to be determined
Turtles are the reptiles of the order Testudines, characterized by a special bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs and acting as a shield.
It can reside inside freshwater or saltwater.
Tortoise are distinguished from other turtles by being land-dwelling, while many (though not all) other turtle species are at partly aquatic.
Turtles are cold-blooded species.
Cold blooded species have a higher range of body temperature and move between environments to make themselves warmer or cooler. E.g. Insects, arachnids, fish, reptiles, and amphibians.
They have very slow metabolism and can survive without food and water for a long time.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) most of the species of turtles and tortoises are vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered.
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