In Sivasagar, Assam, the death of a decades-old softshell tortoise has shaken the community and raised alarm over the worsening state of the Yamuna canal. The animal was found lifeless, surrounded by plastic bags and waste drifting in the water. Wildlife enthusiast Debabrata Gogoi Duwari, who shared the images online, described the canal’s condition as “heartbreaking,” emphasizing that the species was “100% indigenous” and had lived in the area for centuries, possibly since the era of the Ahom Kingdom, Northeast Now reports.

The images quickly went viral, fueling outrage and sparking debates about the neglect of Assam’s waterways. Locals lament that these once-lively canals now carry sewage, industrial runoff, and mountains of discarded plastics.

A softshell tortoise was found dead in Sivasagar’s Yamuna canal.

Pollution’s Toll on Wildlife and Heritage

Environmental observers say the loss is not just ecological but cultural. The Yamuna canal, tied deeply to the history of the Ahom dynasty, has long been considered a heritage waterway. Yet, today it emits a foul odor, and its aquatic life is dwindling. As The Cool Down reports, activists like Devajit Saikia argue that state beautification projects, meant to revive water bodies, have instead failed. Migratory birds have stopped visiting, wetlands have turned stagnant, and residents are losing patience.

The tragedy in Sivasagar echoes larger concerns about plastic pollution worldwide. Researchers have documented more than 200 species ingesting plastics, while countless others face entanglement and habitat loss as waterways clog with debris. Global plastic production reached nearly 390 million tons in 2021, with most of it never recycled, allowing microplastics and chemicals to infiltrate food chains and water supplies, ScienceDirect reports.

Pollution has stripped the Yamuna of migratory birds and clean waters.

Community Anger and Calls for Accountability

Outcry over the tortoise’s death has been swift. Residents criticized local authorities for failing to protect both wildlife and cultural heritage. Concerned citizen Monalisa Kalita directly questioned the silence of local representatives known for environmental advocacy, insisting to Northeast Now that the issue “is above politics, community, or self-interest.”

Local groups like the All Tai Ahom Students’ Union have responded by submitting memorandums demanding the scientific conservation of the Yamuna and its connected waterways. Their stance is that government projects, such as the Amrit Sarovar Mission, can only succeed if rooted in ecological planning that respects natural systems.

The tortoise’s death has ignited outrage across Assam.

A Tragic Loss for a Threatened Species

The incident also highlights the precarious survival of Asia’s freshwater softshell turtles. Conservationists recently celebrated rare nesting evidence of Cantor’s giant softshell turtle, a critically endangered relative of the tortoise found in Assam, along Kerala’s Chandragiri River, according to Phys.org. Once thought nearly vanished, the species was rediscovered after villagers helped scientists locate nests and even release hatchlings.

These breakthroughs show what can be achieved when science and communities unite. Yet, the death in Sivasagar shows the opposite outcome: what happens when ecosystems are left unprotected. A turtle that had survived decades in its ancestral home died suffocated in plastic, a symbol of both environmental decay and lost stewardship.

A Crossroads for Assam’s Future

Assam’s waterways are more than channels of water—they are living records of culture, biodiversity, and community life. With the Yamuna’s decline now impossible to ignore, residents are demanding urgent intervention. Without bold steps to curb pollution and restore ecological balance, the tragedy of one tortoise could foreshadow the fate of many more species, and of the rivers themselves.