Invasive Red-Eared Slider Turtle Threatens Biodiversity in Dhaka’s Hatirjheel Lake
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Hatirjheel, a vital aquatic ecosystem serving as a rare green lung within the dense concrete landscape of Dhaka, is facing an emerging ecological threat from the proliferation of the red-eared slider, an invasive turtle species. Experts warn that the presence of these reptiles, considered one of the world’s most aggressive invasive species, poses a significant risk to the local environment.
The red-eared slider, often introduced to the water through the abandonment of exotic pets, has begun to populate the reservoir at an alarming rate. Biodiversity specialists caution that if the population is not strictly controlled, the species could mirror the disruptive impact of the suckermouth sailfin catfish, which has previously devastated local freshwater habitats.
বিজ্ঞাপন
Environmentalists emphasize that the turtle’s invasive nature allows it to outcompete native species for food and nesting grounds, potentially destabilizing the entire Hatirjheel ecosystem. As authorities grapple with the broader challenges of urban pollution in the area, experts are calling for urgent intervention to mitigate the ecological consequences of this unchecked spread before the damage to local biodiversity becomes irreversible.
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