A sanctuary turned death trap: Turtles flee poisoned waters of Kajalheri

For years, the pond at Kajalheri village in Haryana’s Fatehabad was a safe haven for hundreds of rare turtles. Today, the same waters are forcing them to flee for their lives.

The Shri Guru Gorakhnath Community Reserve, notified by the Haryana Government in 2019, is home to an estimated 150–200 Indian Softshell, Red-roofed and Indian Peacock turtles. But the sanctuary, where the reptiles once came to breed and lay eggs, has allegedly turned into a toxic habitat because of untreated sewage and neglect by the authorities.

The species found here enjoy the highest level of statutory protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, at par with the tiger and rhinoceros. They are also listed as threatened species under the IUCN Red List.

Environmentalists say the contaminated water is causing skin lesions, fungal infections and blindness among softshell turtles. With the pond becoming increasingly foul and polluted, the turtles have begun leaving the reserve and crossing agricultural fields and roads in search of cleaner water. Many, allegedly, have been crushed by vehicles while attempting to reach the nearby Kishangarh canal.

Wildlife conservationist Vaishali Rana has sought registration of a criminal case under the Wildlife (Protection) Act against wildlife officials, Panchayat functionaries and members of the reserve management committee. She has accused them of allowing the deliberate discharge of sewage into the turtle habitat and failing to comply with directions issued by the Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife), Gurugram, after an inspection in January.

The problem does not end with polluted water. In the absence of proper fencing, stray dogs reportedly enter the reserve and dig up turtle nests to eat the eggs, while cattle brought into the pond trample nesting banks and destroy eggs. Turtles themselves are also at risk of being crushed.

A senior wildlife official acknowledged the problems but attributed the delay in remedial measures to a shortage of funds. The department’s action plan includes diverting sewage away from the pond, erecting fencing and creating raised mounds where turtles can safely lay their eggs. Officials said the work would begin after the monsoon once funds are released.

But locals allege that the crisis is the result of official apathy rather than a lack of resources.

Satpal Kajal, a resident, alleged that funds allocated earlier were diverted to other projects because of a nexus between Panchayat and wildlife officials. He said chemical-laden waste from the village had polluted the pond and forced turtles towards the canal.

“There is enough land to create a separate pond to divert the toxic waste,” he said, adding that complaints had also been made to then Wildlife Minister Kanwar Pal Gujjar during the previous government, but no action followed.