Kachhua Sanctuary, Protected wildlife sanctuary in Varanasi, India.
Kachhua Sanctuary is a wildlife protected area situated on the Ganges River in Varanasi that provides habitat for turtle species and freshwater dolphins. The riverine zone creates a refuge for these animals within an urban setting where human activity is otherwise intense.
The sanctuary was established in 1989 with the main purpose of breeding turtles and returning them to the river ecosystem. Over its decades of operation, it has become a key center for turtle conservation work in the region.
The sanctuary sits within Varanasi, a city where the river holds deep spiritual meaning for millions of people who visit and bathe in its waters daily. Local communities view the protection of river wildlife as inseparable from their religious practices and connection to the Ganges.
The site is most accessible from October through June when water levels and weather conditions favor boat travel along the river. Local guides depart regularly from the old city area and can arrange trips to view the sanctuary from the water.
The sanctuary is home to turtle species found primarily in this section of the Ganges and nowhere else in India, making it a globally important conservation site. These populations are so adapted to local river conditions that their survival depends on the sanctuary's ongoing protection work.
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