Current Affairs

UPSC INDIAN STAR TORTOISE - English

INDIAN STAR TORTOISE

Why in News?

A new study on the Indian Star Tortoise (Geochelone elegans) has found that illegal trade and unscientific translocations are causing major losses to the species' genetic diversity and habitat.

Habitat:

• Indian star tortoises are found across the Indian subcontinent, more specifically, in the Central and Southern parts of India, in West Pakistan and in Sri Lanka.
• It is typically found in dry, open habitats such as scrub forests, grasslands, and rocky outcroppings.

Threat

• The species is facing twin challenges of a threat to its habitat at one level and loss of its genetic diversity at the other.
• Their highly fragmented habitat of the species is greatly influenced by an increased level of urbanization and agricultural practices.
• Due to subsequent hybridisation of these species over the years, Indian star tortoises have lost genetic diversity.
• Also, according to the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, 90% of the trade of Star Tortoise occurs as part of the international pet market.

Protection Status:

• IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
• Wild Life Protection Act 1972: Schedule IV
• Schedule IV: This list is for species that are not endangered. It includes protected species but the penalty for any violation is less compared to the Schedules I and II.
• Convention on International Trade in Species (CITES): Appendix I

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