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