Indian Tent Turtle- Relevance for UPSC Exam
- GS Paper 3: Environment- Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation.
Indian Tent Turtle in News
- Recently, the Union Minister of Environment said in Parliament that there are no reports to indicate that the Indian tent turtle is on the verge of extinction due to illegal mining in the Narmada River.
- He said that the Zoological Survey has not conducted any survey in the Narmada River on the impact of illegal mining on Indian tent turtles and its effect on the river ecosystem
Is Indian Tent Turtle in danger?
- Background: Earlier a study by scientists of ZSI concluded that due to illegal sand mining and smuggling in the Narmada river, the Indian Tent Turtles are on the verge of extinction.
- They said that Indian Tent Turtle have completely disappeared from the area around Harda and Khandwa along with the confluence of Narmada-Tawa river ‘Bandrabhan’.
- However, government denied that it was an official study by ZSI.
- Indian Tent Turtle Protection Status:
- WPA 1972: Indian Tent Turtle is listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act (WPI) 1972.
- IUCN Status: Lower Risk/ least concern.
- CITES: Indian Tent Turtle is listed under Schedule II of the CITES.
- Habitation Region: Indian Tent Turtle is native to India, Nepal and Bangladesh.
- Habitat: India Tent Turtle habitats include still water pools on river side and slow running water near the river banks. These are active swimmers and are mainly herbivorous.
- Major Threats: Due to the attractive appearance of the Indian Tent Turtle species, they are illegally traded in the pet market.
- Significance: Indian Tent Turtle known as natural cleaners survive by eating moss and algae etc. and increase the amount of oxygen in the water.
Behler Turtle Conservation Award
Government’s steps to protect Indian Tent Turtle and other Wildlife
- Protected Areas, viz. National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves and Community Reserves have been created in the country covering important habitats to provide better protection to wildlife, including threatened species and their habitat.
- Financial assistance: It is provided to the State/Union Territory Governments under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of ‘Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats’, for providing better protection to wildlife and improvement of habitat.
- The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972: It provides for stringent punishment for violation of its provisions. The Act also provides for forfeiture of any equipment, vehicle or weapon that is used for committing wildlife offence(s).
- The local communities are involved in conservation measures through eco-development activities which help the forest departments in the protection of wildlife.
- Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB): It coordinates with State/UTs and other enforcement agencies to gather intelligence about poaching and unlawful trade in wild animals and animal articles.
Olive Ridley Turtle: Olive Ridley Turtles tagging by Zoological Survey of India (ZSI)