Illicit Trade of Tortoises and Hard-Shell Turtles

• 05 Oct 2023

For Prelims: Turtles, Indian star tortoise, Olive Ridley, Green Turtle

For Mains: Major threats to tortoises and turtles, Wildlife trafficking.

Source: TH

Why in News?

A recent study titled 'From Pets to Plates,' published in Oryx, The International Journal of Conservation, has provided insights into the illicit trade of tortoises and hard-shell turtles.

• The study was conducted by experts associated with the Counter Wildlife Trafficking Programme of the Wildlife Conservation Society-India.

What are the Key Highlights of the Report?

• Chennai Leads the Network:
  • Chennai emerges as the primary node in the tortoise and hard-shell turtle trafficking network.
    • The city plays a central role in the global pet trade, facilitating the illicit trade in these reptiles.
  • Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Anantapur, Agra, North 24 Parganas (in West Bengal), and Howrah (near the India-Bangladesh border) are also crucial in the network, contributing significantly to the trafficking of tortoises and turtles.
• Predominantly Domestic Soft-Shell Turtle Trafficking:
  • Soft-shell turtle trafficking is primarily domestic in nature. International trafficking of soft-shell turtles to and from India is mostly limited to Bangladesh.
• The Asian Turtle Crisis:
  • Wild populations of tortoises and freshwater turtles face immense pressure from illegal trade for pets, food, and medicines.
    • At least 15 of the 30 threatened TFT (Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles) species in India are illegally traded.
    • Freshwater species, such as the Indian flapshell turtles, are in great demand in illegal markets.
      • The Indian Softshell turtle, also known as the Ganges Softshell turtle, is a freshwater reptile found in the Ganges, Indus and Mahanadi rivers in northern and eastern India.
• Comparing Networks:
  • The study found that the tortoise and hard-shell turtle network had a more extensive geographical scale with more international trafficking links compared to the soft-shell turtle network.
  • Complex routes were recorded in tortoise and hard-shell turtle smuggling, whereas soft-shell turtle trafficking primarily followed a one-directional route from source to destination.
• Dire Condition of Trafficked Turtles:
  • Turtles involved in the illegal trade often arrive dehydrated, starved, and with injuries.
  • High mortality rates among trafficked turtles highlight the urgency of addressing this issue.

Tortoise and Hard-Shell Turtles:

• All tortoises are turtles as they belong to the order Testudines/Chelonia.
• Tortoises are distinguished from other turtles by being land-dwelling, while many (though not all) other turtle species are at partly aquatic.
• Hard-shell turtles have rigid and bony shells that provide protection and cannot be easily compressed.
• According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) most of the species of turtles and tortoises are vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered.
• Indian star tortoise, Olive Ridley Turtle , and Green Turtle are a few examples of Tortoise and Hard-Shell Turtles in India.

Soft-Shell Turtle

• Softshell turtles are a large group of reptiles in the family Trionychidae.
• They are called softshells because their shells lack hard scales, and are instead leathery and flexible.
• They often lie buried in mud, sand, and shallow water.
• Commonly found Soft-Shell Turtles in India are Indian Flapshell Turtles, Indian peacock softshell turtles, and Leith’s Soft-shelled Turtle.

Characteristic	Tortoises	Turtles
Shell Shape	High-domed, rounded, heavy shell	Thinner and more streamlined
Habitat	Primarily terrestrial (land-dwelling)	Adapted for life in water
Diet	Primarily herbivorous	Omnivorous or herbivorous
Limbs	Thick, columnar legs, claw-like toes	Flipper-like legs, webbed feet