Indian Tent Turtles
Context:
• Minister of State for Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey in a written reply in Rajya Sabha gave the status of the Indian tent turtle which is listed in Schedule –I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972
About:
• The Indian tent turtle is a species of turtle in the family Geoemydidae. The species is endemic to India and Bangladesh.
• The preferred habitats are freshwater rivers and swamps.
Government of India initiatives:
• Protected Areas, viz., National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves and Community Reserves have been created in the country covering important habitats to provide better protection to wildlife, including threatened species and their habitat.
• Financial assistance is provided to the State/Union Territory Governments under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of ‘Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats’, for providing better protection to wildlife and improvement of habitat.
• The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 provides for stringent punishment for violation of its provisions. The Act also provides for forfeiture of any equipment, vehicle or weapon that is used for committing wildlife offence(s).
• The local communities are involved in conservation measures through eco-development activities which help the forest departments in protection of wildlife.
• The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) coordinates with State/UTs and other enforcement agencies to gather intelligence about poaching and unlawful trade in wild animals and animal articles.
Source: THE HINDU
