This species is found in a number of humid habitats, including riverbanks, canals and rice fields, but predominantly in marshland (Visser 2004). It is absent from dry grassland or hot steppe, areas in which it has erroneously been assumed to occur (Visser 2004). It is mainly terrestrial, but is largely aquatic between June and October in the monsoon season (Visser 2004). In the dry season animals (between November and February) to its own burrows, termite mounds or crevices and cracks in the earth (Visser 2004). Its diet is known to include amphibian, reptile and bird eggs, insects and rodents (Visser 2004). They also are specialized for feeding on crabs. Animals of both sexes become sexually mature between their third and fourth year and females produce a single clutch (Visser 2004). Clutches of 4 to 30 eggs (mean 16) are laid in burrows in elevated areas between July and October (Visser 1985, Bennett 1988, Visser 2004). The length of the incubation period is 155 days at temperatures of >30°, however, can last more to 250 days if temperatures are 30°C and less (Auliya and Koch 2020).

Sexual maturity in both males and females is estimated at 3.5 years (range 2.5–4 yrs )and longevity in captivity is 10.6 years (Schleich and Kastle 2002). Assuming that animals in the wild may live less than in captivity, nine years is used in the estimation of generation length. Using the formula: age of first reproduction + (z * length of reproductive period), generation length is estimated at 5.7 years [3.5 + (0.4 * 5.5)]

This species is confined to, and has a wide range on, the Indo-Gangetic Plain south of the Himalayas in eastern Pakistan (Rawalpindi, Multan, Sukkhur, Hyderabad, Sind Khan 1999), northern India, Nepal, south central Bhutan, and Bangladesh. Its distribution mainly follows the major river systems of the Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra (Visser 2004).

This species is included in CITES Appendix I. It is in Schedule I of Wildlife Protection Act of India (1972), National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1973 of Nepal, and is protected under the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act 2012 of Bangladesh.

Although it has been recorded from several protected areas throughout its range, it is only present in marshy areas, where they are also subjected to occasional poaching.

Conservation measures proposed include protection of wetlands and marshy areas, ground level enforcement of wildlife protection laws, identification of origin and rehabilitation of confiscated animals, education and awareness, coordination among law enforcement agencies.

Research into the life history and ecology of the species to improve conservation efforts is recommended. Regional awareness programmes have recently begun in India, and are needed in the species' other range states (Bhattacharya et al. 2019).