Turtle Survival Alliance India (TSA India) program got associated with the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department’s Kukrail Gharial Rehabilitation Centre (KGRC) in the year 2013 to strengthen river reptile conservation research and education activities. Renovating a defunct building, a modest Laboratory for Aquatic Biology (LAB) was developed in 2014 to aid in and assist with conservation breeding, research, awareness and rescue activities.

Under the supervision of Endangered Project of UPFD, significant numbers of turtles are maintained by the project team at the centre for advancing the scientific knowledge on reproductive biology, artificial incubation, captive behaviour, survivorship as well as the growth. In the light of the long term objectives that are imperative to inform conservation management decisions, captive breeding facilities are continuously being strengthened at Kukrail Centre alongside routine veterinary interventions and dietary mprovements.

Chelonian Research

The team also maintained study cohorts, specifically for few selected species such as H. thurjii, C. indica, B. kachuga and M. tricarinata etc so as to develop hitherto lacking baselines on captive aspects. Focused studies are being conducted to document hatching sucess, feeding preference in different age group of H. thurjii, and analysis of the growth, fitness, blood profile etc. These studies largely aid in refining captive breeding programs at KGRC and to inform conservation management decisions. LAB is also providing basic health care and husbandry support in case of illness, critical stages (neonatal stages) as well as aquatic wildlife rescue, handling and rehabilitation.

Kukrail Guided Nature Tour

As part of the on-going research and outreach component at LAB, we along with UP Forest Department have initiated a guided nature tour to different target groups at Kukrail. Kukrail is an ancient though regenerated remnant forest patch around the Lucknow city and popular for its Gharial Rehabilitation Center. In KGNT, we aim to offer, a consolidated freshwater ecosystem awareness package comprising of an interactive stream side nature walk, demonstrations, audio-visual, touch-and-learn of different animals and ecological games.

The event will be organized, in weekends, project will be evaluated qualitatively by on rating scale for further refinement. Through KGNTwe aim to educate and make aware the visitors to the various habitats in and around Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh and the flora and faunal attributes of these ecological niches. The Nature Trail and animals at Kukrail Centre will also raise awareness about the role and importance of the eco systems and their inhabitant in our environment. We are targeting to break the myth among the people about reptiles and make them aware about the role of aquatic fauna in maintaining the ecological balance. With the help of this project we will be able to reach maximum people. The project is also helping in promoting capacity building of different target groups including frontline forest staff, government administration, students and school children.