Source: IE
Subject: Species in News
Context: Police in Greater Noida rescued 16 Indian Softshell turtles from a smuggler during a routine check.
- The turtles, native to the Ganga river system and protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, were being illegally transported.
About Indian Softshell Turtles:
What It Is?
- The Indian Softshell Turtle (Nilssonia gangetica), also known as the Gangetic Softshell Turtle, is a large freshwater reptile. Unlike most turtles that have a hard, bony scute, these belong to the family Trionychidae, characterized by a leathery shell that lacks a traditional keratinized cover.
IUCN Status and Legal Protection:
- IUCN Red List: Endangered.
- Wildlife Protection Act (1972): Schedule I (India’s highest level of legal protection, equivalent to that of the Tiger).
- CITES: Appendix I.
Habitat and Distribution:
- Primary Range: Found predominantly in the Ganges, Indus, and Mahanadi river systems.
- Environment: They prefer deep, turbid rivers, streams, large canals, lakes, and ponds with mud or sand bottoms where they can easily bury themselves.
- Geographic Spread: Distributed across India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal.
Key Characteristics:
- Soft Shell: It has a flat, oval, and leathery carapace (upper shell) that is olive-green or dull green in color.
- Distinct Head: The head is large with a distinctive snout-like proboscis (pointed nose) that allows it to breathe while remaining submerged.
- Size: They are massive, with the carapace length reaching up to 94 cm.
- The 20-Claw Myth: Poachers specifically target individuals with 20 claws (five on each limb), as they are falsely believed to bring good luck or have higher medicinal value in the black market.
- Diet: They are omnivorous scavengers, feeding on fish, mollusks, frogs, and occasionally rotting vegetation or carcasses.
Significance:
- As scavengers, they play a vital role in the river ecosystem by consuming organic waste and dead matter, helping to keep the Ganges and other rivers clean.
- Their presence indicates the health of the freshwater riverine systems.
