Conservation Measures Becoming Prevalent in India
On May 23, which happened to be World Turtle Day, experts at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan met in order to gather ideas and develop stratagies for conserving their native turtle species, of which there are 28. Of these 28 species, 14 of them are endangered and efforts will be made to protect the ecosystems, halt the illegal trade, and headstart turtles to release back into the wild. The Uttar Pradesh forest department also plans to work closely with the Turtle Survival Alliance to accomplish their goals. In various locations in India, measures have already been taken to protect the native species, including a headstarting program and the creation of a turtle santuary in Varanasi. The species Batagur kachuga has become the focus of a project located in the Chambal sanctuary. Although all India’s turtles are protected under Schedule (I) of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, poaching is still a major threat and a major goal of this conservation project is that illegal collection will be halted.
Turtle News From Around the World
Conservation
Sea Turtle with an amazing rescue story
Installing fences to protect turtles
Turtle hatchlings at a record number
Read about a zookeeper’s field conservation expedition
Biology
Several states implementing turtle tracking programs
Crime & Punishment
Spur Thighed tortoise discovered in a couple’s house
Ecology
Invasive turtle to be euthanized
Trade of three U.S. turtle species now regulated
Miscellany
See photos of a huge turtle discovered in a lake
Did You Know…
Gopherus agassizii (Desert Tortoise) females do not breed until they are 15 to 20 years old. When hatchlings emerge from eggs they are approximately 2 inches long. Only about 2 percent of hatchlings survive to become adults.
Mating Season: Late summer to early fall. Gestation: 10-12 months. Clutch size: 4-6 eggs
Question or Concerns? Want to submit an article to get posted? Email us at [email protected].
Photo from turtlesurvival.
