Asian Giant Tortoise

Table of contents

Why in news:

The critically endangered Asian giant tortoise has been reintroduced into the Zeliang Community Reserve in Nagaland’s Peren district.

UPSC CSE UPSC CSE Relevance:

UPSC CSE in prelims examination has focused on Species in news every year UPSC asked at least one question related to species. A case in point is a following PYQ.

UPSC Prelims PYQ 2013:

Consider the following fauna of India:

1. Gharial

2. Leatherback turtle

3. Swamp deer

Which of the above is/are critically endangered?

A) 1 and 2 only

B) 3 only

C) 1, 2 and 3

D) None

UPSC Prelims PYQ 2021:

Which one of the following is a filter feeder?

A) Catfish

B) Octopus

C) Oyster

D) Pelican

Asian Giant Tortoise (Manouria emys):

The largest tortoise in mainland Asia with individuals reaching up to 60 cm in length and weighing over 35 kg.
The shell is typically dark brown to black and is highly domed.
It is believed to be one of the oldest tortoise species in the world.
They are herbivores, feeding on leaves, fruits, mushrooms, and other vegetation.
They are known to live for a long time, with some individuals potentially reaching 80-100 years.
Asian giant tortoises, also known as the small elephants of the forests, help in seed dispersal and forest regeneration, apart from scavenging to keep the forest floor clean.
They are one of the few tortoise species known to build an above-ground nest using a large pile of leaves and also one of the only species to exhibit maternal care, with the female guarding the nest.
It has a wide but fragmented range across South and Southeast Asia.
It is found in humid regions of North East India.
IUCN Status : Critically Endangered
Schedule IV of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
CITES Appendix II, which allows international commercial trade but only with a permit and if the trade is not detrimental to the species’ survival.

The Recent Conservation Programme:

Once found in large numbers, the Asian giant tortoise was almost wiped out from Nagaland more than a decade ago.
Following a long-term agreement with the Nagaland State Forest Department, the India Turtle Conservation Programme (ITCP) started the conservation project in 2018 with tortoises mostly donated by people who kept them as pets.
The tortoises were released in a pre-constructed soft-release enclosure to help them develop site fidelity before actual dispersal.
They are marked and tagged with a VHF-based telemetry system to study their dispersal and survival in deep rainforests.
Youths from the local community have been engaged by the project as ‘tortoise guardians’ to ensure protection of the released tortoises and assist in data collection. Other community members have also been involved in the project in various capacities.

Difference between Tortoise and Turtle:

Feature	Turtles (Aquatic & Semi-Aquatic)	Tortoises (Terrestrial)
Habitat	Primarily live in or around water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and swamps. They often only come ashore to bask or lay eggs.	Exclusively land-dwelling creatures. They inhabit a range of terrestrial environments, from deserts to grasslands and forests. They avoid deep water as most species cannot swim well.
Shell	Typically flatter, more streamlined, and lighter to help them move efficiently through the water.	Generally high-domed, thick, and heavy for maximum protection from terrestrial predators.
Limbs	Have webbed feet with claws for walking on land and swimming, or flippers for life in the sea.	Have sturdy, elephant-like, club-like legs that are well-suited for walking and supporting their heavy bodies on land.
Diet	Mostly omnivorous. Their diet includes a mix of plants and animals, such as aquatic vegetation, insects, fish, and crustaceans.	Primarily herbivorous. They feed on grasses, leaves, weeds, fruits, and other vegetation.
Lifespan	Varies widely, but generally shorter than tortoises. Many species live for 20-40 years, though some sea turtles can live much longer.	Known for their exceptional longevity. It is not uncommon for them to live for 80-150 years or even longer.
Examples	Green Sea Turtle, Leatherback Sea Turtle, Red-eared Slider, Snapping Turtle, Painted Turtle, Olive Ridley	Indian Star Tortoise, Galapagos Giant Tortoise, Aldabra Giant Tortoise, Sulcata Tortoise, Hermann’s Tortoise, speckled cape
Largest	Leatherback Turtle	Galapagos Tortoise
Smallest	Olive Ridley Turtle	Speckled Cape Tortoise

Note: The highlighted species of tortoise and turtle in bold font have been mentioned in UPSC PYQs and hence are important.