”There are no reports to indicate that the Indian tent turtle is on the verge of extinction due to illegal mining in Narmada River,” according to Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Ashwini Kumar Choubey. He further informed 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.
Indian Tent Turtle
Indian tent turtles, listed in Schedule –I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 are provided the highest degree of protection in India. They are native to India, Nepal, and Bangladesh and are similar to the Indian roofed turtle.
– The subspecies P. t. tentoria is found in peninsular India and is recorded from Orissa, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, and Madhya Pradesh.
– P. t. circumdata occurs in the western tributaries of Ganga and the rivers of Gujarat. It is found in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat.
– P. t. flaviventer occurs in the northern tributaries of Ganga and is recorded from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Assam.
Mainly herbivorous, these turtles, known as natural cleaners, survive by eating moss and algae, etc., and increase the amount of oxygen in the water. They inhabit still water pools on the riverside and slow running water near the river banks. The turtles vary in color depending upon their subspecies, for instance, Subspecies tentoria has an olive or brownish head with a red postocular spot. However, the turtles face the threat of illegal trade in the pet market.
Government Initiatives
The Government of India has taken several steps to protect wildlife and its habitats including for Indian tent turtle species. Important steps taken in this regard include:
– Protected areas, namely, 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.
– Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of ‘Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats’, financial assistance is provided to the State/Union territories for providing better protection to wildlife and improvement of habitat.
– The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 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.
– The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) coordinates with State/UTs and other enforcement agencies to gather intelligence about poaching and unlawful trade in wild animals and animal articles.
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