The battle to bring freshwater turtles back from the brink

  • December 2, 2022
  • Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
  • Category: DPN Topics
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The battle to bring freshwater turtles back from the brink

Subject: Environment

What is Turtle Survival Alliance:

  • The Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) was formed in 2001 as an International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) partnership for sustainable captive management of freshwater turtles and tortoises.
  • The TSA arose in response to the rampant and unsustainable harvest of Asian turtle populations to supply Chinese markets, a situation known as the Asian Turtle Crisis.
  • Mission: ‘Zero Turtle Extinctions in the 21st Century’.

Status of Turtle in India:

  • India has 29 species of freshwater turtles (24) and tortoises (5).
  • More than half of the turtle species are threatened and 11 are protected under Schedule I of The Wildlife Protection Act, enjoying the same protection as tigers.
  • The three critically endangered turtles are being conserved as a part of TSA India’s research, conservation breeding and education programme in different parts of the country.
    • The Northern River Terrapin (Batagurbaska) is being conserved at the Sunderbans;
    • The Red-crowned Roofed Turtle (Batagurkachuga) at Chambal;
    • The Black Softshell Turtle (Nilssonia nigricans) at different temples in

What is the difference between Turtle and Tortoise:

  • The main difference between the two is that turtles are primarily aquatic whereas tortoises are terrestrial and spend more time on land.

What is Wildlife Crime Control Bureau

  • The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau  is a statutory multi-disciplinary body under the MoEFCCcreated in 2007 under the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.
  • Wildlife Crime Control Bureau is designated nodal agency for CITES related enforcement.
  • The Bureau has its five regional offices at Delhi (headquarters), Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai and Jabalpur; and five border units at Ramanathapuram, Gorakhpur, Motihari, Nathula and Moreh.
  • It has received the Asia Environmental Enforcement Award-2020 awarded by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
  • Under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, WCCB is mandated to:
    • Collect and collate intelligence related to organized wildlife crime;
    • Disseminate the same to State and other enforcement agencies so as to apprehend the criminals;
    • To establish a centralized wildlife crime data bank;
    • Coordinate actions by various agencies in connection with the enforcement of the provisions of the Act;
    • Assist international organizations& foreign authorities to facilitate wildlife crime control;
    • Capacity building of the wildlife crime enforcement agencies;
    • Assist State Governments to ensure success in prosecutions related to wildlife crimes; and
    • Advise the Government of India on issues relating to wildlife crimes.
    • It also assists and advises the Customs authorities in inspection of the consignments of flora & fauna as per the provisions of Wild Life Protection Act, CITES and EXIM Policy governing such an item.

Various Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) led operations:

  • Operation “Save Kurma” to focus on the poaching, transportation and illegal trade of live turtles and tortoises.
  • “Operation Turtshield- I” and “Operation Turtshield-II” were taken up to tackle the illegal trade of live turtles.
  • Operation “Lesknow”, “Lesknow-II” and Operation “Lesknow-III” to gain attention of enforcement agencies towards the illegal wildlife trade in lesser-known species of wildlife.
  • Operation Clean Art to drag attention of enforcement agencies towards illegal wildlife trade in Mongoose hair brushes.
  • Operation Softgoldto tackle Shahtoosh Shawl made from Chiru wool illegal trade and to spread awareness among the weavers and traders engaged in this trade.
  • Operation Birbil to curb illegal trade in wild cat and wild bird species.
  • Operation Wildnet, Operation Wildnet-II, Operation Wildnet-III and Operation Wildnet-IV to draw the attention of the enforcement agencies within the country to focus their attention on the ever increasing illegal wildlife trade over internet using social media platforms.
  • Operation Freefly on illegal trade of live birds
  • Operation Wetmark to ensure prohibition of sale of meat of wild animals in wet markets across the country
Environment The battle to bring freshwater turtles back from the brink