Freshwater Turtles

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Freshwater Turtles

News Highlight

The battle to bring freshwater turtles back from the brink of extinction

Key takeaway

Conservationists and government departments are fighting against all odds to prevent the smuggling of turtles within and outside the country.

Illegal smuggling of freshwater turtles

  • A sizable shipment of 143 live freshwater turtles was intended for smuggling into Bangladesh.
  • The Border Security Force (BSF) recovered the shipment in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district in January of this year.
  • The contraband law enforcement authorities have intercepted may only represent a small portion of the total.
  • To stop turtle trafficking, the Conference of the Parties (COP) approved India’s proposal earlier this month to add the red-crowned roofed turtle (Batagur kachuga) and the Leith’s Softshell Turtle (Nilssonia leithii) to Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (which lists the most endangered species that need the highest level of protection) (CITES).

Freshwater Turtles

  • About
    • Freshwater turtles are reptiles with hard shells that protect them from predators.
    • They spend most of their life in the water, only coming on land to migrate between water bodies or nests.
    • There are currently 29 species of freshwater turtles and tortoises reported in India.
  • Breeding and life cycle
    • Freshwater turtles spend most of their lives in rivers, lakes, swamps, ponds, and farm dams.
    • However, they sometimes come onto land to migrate between water bodies or nests.
    • Some species can also survive for months buried in soil or dry lake beds in a dormant state.
    • However, they are not able to feed out of water.
  • Freshwater turtles are threatened by such things as
    • Plastic bags and other waste, which the turtles mistake for jellyfish
    • Cigarette butts
    • Fishing lines and hooks
    • Boat and propeller collisions
    • Entanglement and drowning in nets, ropes, floats or traps
    • Habitat destruction, poor water quality and seagrass depletion
    • Deliberate acts of cruelty
    • Diseases.
  • IUCN status
    • According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), most of species of turtles and tortoises are vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered.
Freshwater Turtles

Why do we need to protect freshwater turtles?

  • Freshwater turtles are well-known for providing ecosystem services such as cleaning up algal blooms and scavenging the dead matter in rivers, ponds, and freshwater sources.
  • Many of these 29 species are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, with up to 11 receiving Schedule 1 protection, the same as a tiger.

Measures Taken

  • Turtle Survival Alliance-India (TSA) described the CITES upgrade of the Nilssonia leithii as an “anticipatory” step.
  • The Ministry of Environment and Forests proposed the proposal, and Climate Change (MOEFCC) and the COP adopted it.
  • India has been working to protect the last remaining population, and “OPERATION TURTLE SHIELD” is an initiative that has been praised by CoP19.

CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora)

  • It is a multilateral agreement to safeguard threatened species from the dangers posed by global trade.
  • CITES was drafted due to a decision made by IUCN members in 1963 during a meeting (The World Conservation Union).
  • Appendix I
    • Appendix I lists the most endangered species among CITES-listed animals and plants.
    • Because they face extinction, CITES forbids international commerce in their specimens, except for imports made for noncommercial purposes, such as scientific research.
    • In these rare circumstances, trade is permitted if the issuance approves an import and export permit.

Pic Courtesy: The Hindu

Content Source: The Hindu

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Consider the following statements regarding Freshwater Turtles:

1. There are currently 29 species of freshwater turtles and tortoises reported in India.
2. They spend most of their life in the water only coming on land to migrate between water bodies or to nest.

Which of the given statements is/ are correct?

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