Batagur kachuga is a hard shelled tortoise. It is also called the red-crowned roofed turtle because of the bright red stripes on the male's head during breeding season.
In India, it is found only in the National Chambal River Gharial Sanctuary located in Madhya Pradesh. It is included in the critically endangered category in the IUCN Red List.
Historically, this tortoise was found in central Nepal, Northeast India, Bangladesh and Burma.
During the 19th Conference of the Parties to CITES held in Panama, India has informed that this turtle has high risk of extinction.