UPSC Articles
Indian Peacock Softshell Turtle rescued
Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Biodiversity
In news
- Indian peacock softshell turtle, a turtle of a vulnerable species was rescued from a fish market in Assam’s Silchar.
Important value addition
- The Indian peacock softshell turtle [Nilssonia hurum] is a species of turtle found in South Asia.
- IUCN Red list status: Vulnerable species.
- Schedule I species in the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
- This species is confined to India, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
- In india, it is widespread in the northern and central parts of the Indian subcontinent.
- These are found in rivers, streams, lakes and ponds with mud or sand bottoms.
- Major Threats: (1) Heavily exploited for its meat and calipee; (2) Reduction of fish stock, due to overfishing, pollution, increase in river traffic, and sand-mining, among others.
Do you know?
- According to a report by Guwahati-based conservation NGO, Help Earth, 29 species of turtles have been recorded in India, out of which 20 are found in Assam.
