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Several excursions to potential turtle habitats were carried out in summer this year (2014) by the
ARCO-TRCC reperesentative Nabin Bhattarai and yielded most updated information on the
conservation status of turtles in an area of SE Nepal.
A place visited amongst others is situated about 20-25 km SW of the TRCC project area. This,
Chillagad lake, is seen as a natural lake for very many years and also a holy place for Hindu people.
There is a lady priest (see photo below) who is worshipping daily since 2025 BS (1968), according to
her there were 4 types of turtles but these days there is only one type Lissemys punctata surviving. At
the beginning of her duty, there was a very dense forest and she added that at that time there lived
tricarinate hill turtle (Melanochelys tricarinata) and yellow headed turtle (Indotestudo elongata) in the
surroundings.
Close to this particular locality runs Kankai mai, a big river system of east Nepal after Koshi river,
which is only 500 m far from this lake so there might be chances to discover other species too what
needs more frequent observation.
