News Highlight
India has proposed to protect the Red-Crowned Roofed turtle at the 19th Conference of the Parties to CITES in Panama.
Key Takeaway
- The summit would have a series of proposals to protect threatened and vulnerable wild animals.
Red-Crowned Roofed turtle
- About
- Red Crowned Roofed Turtle is one of the species endemic to India.
- Scientific Name is Batagur kachuga
- Distribution
- It is a freshwater turtle found in deep-flowing rivers with terrestrial nesting sites.
- The Red-crowned roofed turtle is native to India, Bangladesh and Nepal.
- The National Chambal River Gharial Sanctuary
- Currently, in India, the National Chambal River Gharial Sanctuary is the only area with a substantial species population, but even this Protected Area and habitat are under threat.
- Features
- It is characterised by the bright colours such as red, yellow, white and blue on the faces and necks of the males.
- Major Threats
- Loss or degradation of habitat due to pollution.
- Sand mining and growing of seasonal crops.
- Drowning by illegal fishing nets.
- Poaching and illegal trade.
- Conservation Status
- IUCN-Critically Endangered
- Wildlife Protection Act-1971-Schedule I
- The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) – Appendix II
CITESÂ
- About
- The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
- CITES is an agreement regulating the movement of specific wild animal and plant species across international borders.
- Launched
- CITES was drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of members of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
- CITES entered into force in 1975.
- SecretariatÂ
- The CITES Secretariat is administered by UNEP (The United Nations Environment Programme) and is located in Geneva, Switzerland.
- Appendices
- The species covered by CITES are listed in three Appendices as per the degree of protection they need:
- Appendix I includes species threatened with extinction.
- Appendix II includes species not necessarily threatened with extinction but (where trade must be controlled).
- Appendix III contains species that are protected in at least one country which has asked other CITES parties for assistance in controlling the trade.
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