The Red-crowned roofed turtle (Batagur kachuga) is a species of large freshwater turtle and a bio-indicator species endemic to South Asia. It is one of the 24 species endemic to India, with females growing significantly larger than males, reaching up to 56 cm in shell length and weighing up to 25 kg. During the breeding season, the males are distinguished by vivid red, yellow, white, and blue markings on their faces and necks. Historically, the species was widely distributed across the Ganga River basin in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh.
The population suffered a catastrophic decline due to intensive hunting, illegal trade, and habitat degradation from sand mining and erratic water releases by dams. This led to its classification as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. The species is provided the highest level of legal protection in India, being listed under Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. Internationally, it is listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which restricts its international trade.
The species' only substantial wild population in India is now confined to the National Chambal Sanctuary. A significant recent development is its reintroduction into the Ganga River (specifically the Haiderpur Wetland in Uttar Pradesh) after an absence of nearly three decades. This conservation success was achieved through rear-and-release programs supported by the Namami Gange Mission and the Turtle Survival Alliance India (TSAFI) project. The ongoing conservation mechanism involves long-term nest-protection efforts and riverside hatcheries to stabilize the population.