Tortoise & hard-shell turtle smuggling network wider, more organised than that for soft-shell turtle: Report

Tortoise & hard-shell turtle smuggling network wider, more organised than that for soft-shell turtle: Report

Subject: Environment

Section: species in news

Context:

• Tortoise or hard-shell turtles from India are traded to more places globally and through a wider trafficking network than soft-shell turtles, according to a new report. The former is mostly traded as pets while the latter for meat, primarily within the country.

Report and its findings:

• The findings were published in Oryx — The International Journal of Conservation.
• Research title: From pets to plates: Network analysis of trafficking in tortoises and freshwater turtles representing different types of demand
• The first-of-its-kind study compared the supply networks of tortoise or hard-shell turtles and soft-shell turtles based on 78 and 64 seizures, respectively, reported in the media during 2013 to 2019.
• Key Findings:
  • The structure of the trafficking networks of tortoises and freshwater turtles varied based on demand.
  • The smuggling racket of tortoises / hard-shell turtles were found to be much wider than the soft-shell turtles.
  • The trade network for pet turtles was also observed to be more organised than that for soft-shell turtles sold for meat.
  • There is a lack of training on and awareness of illegal wildlife trade.
  • The important trading stops in the case of tortoise / hard-shell turtles were all located in large, well-connected state capitals like Chennai (most active node), Kolkata, Mumbai and Bangalore.
  • Other nodes of importance included Sri Lanka, West Bengal and Delhi.
  • North 24 pargana of West Bengal has emerged a key hub for illegal trade of both soft-shell turtles and tortoise/Hard-shell turtles.

Soft-shell turtle:

• The Trionychidae are a taxonomic family of a number of turtle genera, commonly known as softshell turtles.
• The family was erected by Leopold Fitzinger in 1826.
• Softshells include some of the world’s largest freshwater turtles, though many can adapt to living in highly brackish areas.
• Members of this family occur in Africa, Asia, and North America, with extinct species known from Australia.
• Most species have traditionally been included in the genus Trionyx, but the vast majority have since been moved to other genera. Among these are the North American Apalonesoftshells that were placed in Trionyx until 1987.
• They are called “softshell” because their carapaces lack horny scutes (scales), though the spiny softshell, Apalonespinifera, does have some scale-like projections, hence its name.
• The Indian Softshell turtle (Nilssoniagangetica), also known as the Ganges Softshell turtle, is a reptile found in freshwater habitats and its distribution is restricted to the Ganges, Indus and Mahanadi rivers in northern and eastern India.

Tortoise or Hard-shell turtles:

• Tortoises/ hard-shell turtles are reptiles of the family Testudinidae of the order Testudines (Latin for “tortoise”). Like other turtles, tortoises have a shell to protect from predation and other threats.
• The shell in tortoises is generally hard, and like other members of the suborder Cryptodira, they retract their necks and heads directly backward into the shell to protect them.
• Tortoises can vary in size with some species, such as the Galápagos giant tortoise, growing to more than 1.2 metres (3.9 ft) in length, whereas others like the Speckled cape tortoise have shells that measure only 6.8 centimetres (2.7 in) long.[2] Several lineages of tortoises have independently evolved very large body sizes in excess of 100 kg, including the Galapagos giant tortoise and the Aldabra giant tortoise.
• They are usually diurnal animals with tendencies to be crepuscular depending on the ambient temperatures. They are generally reclusive animals.
• Tortoises are the longest-living land animals in the world, although the longest-living species of tortoise is a matter of debate.
• Galápagos tortoises are noted to live over 150 years, but an Aldabra giant tortoise named Adwaita may have lived an estimated 255 years. In general, most tortoise species can live 80–150 years.
• Tortoises are placid and slow-moving, with an average walking speed of 0.2–0.5 km/h.
• Tortoises are found from southern North America to southern South America, around the Mediterranean basin, across Eurasia to Southeast Asia, in sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, and some Pacific islands. They are absent from Australasia.
• Tortoises are generally considered to be strict herbivores, feeding on grasses, weeds, leafy greens, flowers, and some fruits. However, hunting and eating of birds has been observed on occasion.

Difference between tortoise and turtle:

Source: DTE