An “extinct” species of turtle is being reintroduced to the wild after a small population was found flourishing in a pond at an Indian temple.

The black softshell turtle (Nilssonia nigricans) was declared extinct in the wild 17 years ago by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. However, in Hayagriva Madhav temple in Assam, these reptiles are believed to be a reincarnation of Hindu deity Vishnu and so they are protected.

Jayaditya Purkayastha, from conservation group Good Earth which is working to protect the remaining turtles at Hayagriva Madhav temple, told AFP: “There are plenty of turtles in the temple pond.

“The population of the turtle in Assam has gone down by a great extent. So we thought we needed to intervene and do something to save the species from extinction.”

Mr Purkayastha, who is working with authorities at the Hayagriva temple, released 16 black softshells in a nearby wildlife sanctuary for the first time in January this year.

Mr Purkayastha collects eggs laid by females on the sandy banks of the pond and cares for them in an incubator

He collects eggs laid by females on the sandy banks of the pond and cares for them in an incubator. At least 40 turtles have been bred in the pond before being taken to Guwahati zoo where they are reared.

Freshwater turtles were once abundant in Assam but they were a popular local food and much of their habitat has been destroyed. The state has 20 out of 28 species of freshwater turtles and tortoises found in India

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Two years after being declared extinct in the wild in 2002, some turtles were found in a few ancient ponds where they are fed by devotees. The discovery gave conservationists hope the species would not be lost altogether.

Conservationists at Good Earth have now identified 18 other ponds which could become sanctuaries for the rare turtles.

Pranab Malakar, who is caretaker at the pond at Hayagriva Madhav, says the turtles are respected and are also reliant on people feeding them bread.

“No one harms them here as they are incarnations of Lord Vishnu. I was born and grew up here. We have been seeing the turtles since our childhood,” he said.