TORTOISES
AND FRESHWATER TURTLES - ENVIRONMENT
News:
Chennai top node in
tortoise trafficking network, says study
What's
in the news?
●
Recently, a new study found that Chennai is the highest-ranked node in the
tortoise and hard-shell turtle trafficking network, fuelling the global pet
trade.
Key
takeaways:
●
Mumbai,
Kolkata, Bengaluru, Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh, Agra and North 24 Parganas and
Howrah in West Bengal also rank high.
●
The study found that the trafficking of soft-shell turtles for meat
was predominantly domestic in nature, with the international trafficking of the reptile from or to India almost restricted to Bangladesh.
●
Asian
turtle crisis” is a term often used to describe the
current state of tortoises and freshwater turtles (TFTs).
Tortoises
and freshwater turtles (TFTs):
Tortoise:
●
Mostly found in central and southern parts
of India, west Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
●
It is found in dry and open habitats such as dry forests, open grasslands etc.
Freshwater
turtle:
●
It is native to India, Bangladesh and Nepal.
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It is widespread in both Ganga and Brahmaputra.
●
National
chambal river gharial sanctuary is the only area with
substantial population.
Challenges:
●
Habitat destruction
●
Illegal harvesting
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Illegal trade for food, pets etc.
Conservation:
Tortoise:
●
IUCN
status: Vulnerable
●
WPA 1972: Schedule IV
Freshwater
turtle:
●
It was included into the appendix I of the CITES list.
●
IUCN:
Critically endangered
●
WPA
1972:
Schedule I