NEWS

380 endangered Indian star tortoises seized in Karnataka

INDIAN STAR TORTOISES

• Found across the Indian sub-continent, more specifically, in the Central and Southern parts of India, in West Pakistan and in Sri Lanka.
• Protected under
  • Schedule IV of Wild Life Protection Act, 1972
  • Vulnerable under IUCN
  • CITES Appendix I
• Threats: loss of habitat to agriculture and illegal harvesting for the pet trade.
• Single most confiscated species of freshwater tortoise in the world, according to wildlife-trade watchdog TRAFFIC.
• Trading require registration and special permits.