Batagur baska described as critically endangered turtle by IUCN

TNPSC Current Affairs July 2017

Batagur Baska (Northern river terrapin) is critically endangered turtle to get new home in water ponds in the Sunderbans Tiger Reserve. The 60 m long turtle is assumed extinct in several southeast Asian countries is classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature ( IUCN) in its Red List of threatened species.

Batagur Baska described as the world’s second most endangered turtle and Yangtze giant soft shell turtle (Rafetus Swinhoei) is considered as the most endangered freshwater turtle.

About IUCN:

• International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) is an international, independent organization, founded in 1948, with headquarters in Gland, Switzerland.
• It promotes and initiates scientifically based conservation measures and the ecologically sustainable use of natural resources
• It publishes data books listing Red List of Threatened Species, a comprehensive assessment of the current risk of extinction of thousands of plant and animal species.