Geoclemys hamiltonii prefers shallow, densely vegetated standing waterbodies, but may also occur in rivers, ponds and reservoirs and basks preferentially in reed beds (Das 1991). This species apparently feeds mostly on snails, taking also dragonfly larvae and other insects, freshwater crustaceans and a wide range of other vegetable and animal food items (Minton 1966, Das and Bhupathy in Das 1991, Rashid and Swingland 1997).

Animals may reach 40.5 cm carapace length, at a maximum weight of 6 kg. Females in Bangladesh averaged 30 cm (20.7-40.5, N=14), males are similar-sized averaging 29 cm (21.1-39.2 cm, N=13) (Rashid and Swingland 1997). Maturity in captivity may be reached after 6-8 (Gurley 2003) or 12 years (Artner 2006). Generation time was estimated at 20 years (Singapore Red List Workshop participants 2011).

Females reproduce during two distinct nesting seasons, with the second clutch usually a bit smaller than the first (Das 1991, Das and Bhupathy 2010); females produce clutches of 12-36 eggs (Bhupathy and Choudhury 1993, Basu and Singh 1998, Das 2001, Artner 2006). Hatchlings measure about 37 mm (Ewert 1979).

Geoclemys hamiltonii inhabits the lowlands of the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra River basins of Pakistan; Assam, Bihar, Jammu, Meghalaya, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal in India; Bangladesh; and Nepal.

Geoclemys hamiltonii is included in CITES Appendix I, prohibiting all forms of international commercial trade. It is also protected under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972 (amended) which includes endangered species that may only be hunted under exceptional circumstances under licence from both federal and provincial authorities.

Geoclemys has been recorded from Kaziranga National Park , Orang National Park and Dibru Saikhowa National Park (Assam), Harike Lake (Punjab), and Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) in India (Das 1991, Hanfee 1999, Das and Bhupathy 2010); its populations are apparently quite secure at Harike Lake and other lakes in Punjab, where it occurs in most inundated areas, and in the terai belt of India (B.C. Choudhury and D. Basu pers. comm. 2005). The protected river valley in Assam's Kaziranga-Orang Riverine Landscape (KURL) is an important area for the species future (Ahmed and Das 2010).

Status and distribution surveys are needed throughout the range of the species, with emphasis on occurrence in protected areas. Efforts to address subsistence consumption, through education and alternative protein provision, are likely necessary.

Reintroduction or population augmentation with captive-bred or release of confiscated specimens may be considered. The illegal trade in this species must be addressed through a combination of enforcement of existing laws and regulations, improvement of pertinent laws in destination countries, and consumer awareness programs in destination countries. Studies of ecology and life history and population dynamics are needed.