India, Jan. 26 -- A scientific survey along a 174-km stretch of the Brahmaputra River flowing through Assam's Kaziranga Tiger Reserve has documented 945 freshwater turtles, underlining the river's global importance as a freshwater biodiversity hotspot and a critical refuge for endangered species.

The findings are part of the 5th Annual Aquatic Fauna Survey, conducted jointly by Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve and the India Turtle Conservation Programme (ITCP). The survey report was released on the eve of National Tourism Day during a Training Workshop on Natural World Heritage Sites held at Kaziranga on January 24.

The report was formally released by Dr Vinay Gupta, IFS, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlif...