More than 400 endangered black-spotted turtles — recovered from Mumbai international airport recently — will be relocated to Kukrail Rehabilitation Centre in lucknow on the occasion of World Turtle Day on Saturday. Following which, they will be released back into their natural habitat in Tarai region of Uttar Pradesh.
The rare species — protected under Schedule 1 species under the Wildlife Protection Act — have been subjected to rampant illegal trading, primarily as exotic pets. This is the first-ever inter-State repatriation of this species in the country. A joint effort by three different outfits — Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA), Endangered Project Uttar Pradesh Forest Department, Maharashtra Forest Department and Society For Prevention of Cruelty To Animals — led to the recovery of these turtles.
According to Shailendra Singh, director TSA, Mumbai customs department seized these turtles in three separate consignments at the Chattrapati Shivaji International Airport recently. “Optimal care was provided to them during captivity by Thane Forest Department Maharashtra — under the supervision of TSA. However, for their survival, it is important to rehabilitate and reintroduce them back to their distribution range, said Singh.
TSA works for the conservation of various chelonian species and their habitats in 10 countries, including India. “Their repatriation in the Kukrail Gharial and Turtle Rehabilitation Center in lucknow, on the occasion of World Turtle Day, will send a strong message on the survival of these seriously threatened species,” said PCCF, Uttar Pradesh, Rupak De.
The Centre is adequately equipped to treat and stabilise them prior to their release in an appropriate habitat and also monitor their survival after the reintroduction. The turtles will be held at this facility for minimum of two months before being released in a few oxbow lakes in the State, he added. According to TRAFFIC (working against illegal trade of wildlife), turtles are mostly smuggled out from Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, and then taken to East Asian countries via Bangkok.
Most of the seizures are from passengers using commercial airlines and concealing animals in their baggage. Though majority of those caught get arrested but very few cases result in successful prosecutions. Turtles are gravely threatened in Asia with 17 of the 25 most critically endangered tortoises and freshwater turtles of this region figuring in the IUCN Red list. According to the findings of TRAFFIC India, apart from being traded as pets, the species is also known to be traded for meat and medicine.