In a first, conservation organization Wildlife SOS and Karnataka Forest Department have rescued over 50 Endangered Star Tortoises from smugglers and released them back in their natural habitat after fitting satellite tags on the animals to track their survival. This is the first time that a satellite telemetry study of Indian Star tortoises rescued from the illegal wildlife trafficking industry has been initiated. A team of researchers and wildlife biologists will monitor the movements and ranging patterns of the tortoises in the wild.
The Indian star tortoises were repatriated from Singapore following efforts by the Forest Department and Wildlife SOS to follow up with the Government agencies in Singapore and ACRES. The PCCF(Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden of Karnataka travelled to Singapore with a representative of Wildlife SOS to meet the authorities and inspect the animals.
Also Read: 50 Smuggled Star Tortoises to Return back to India
After several months of negotiations and approvals from Singapore and Indian Government agencies, 51 tortoises found fit for transport were finally flown back home to Bangalore International Airport.
Upon completing a mandated quarantine period, the tortoises were transferred to a soft release site where a team of researchers and biologists monitored their health status and studied their behaviour patterns to ensure that the tortoises qualified for release into the wild.
The Satellite Tags attached to some of the tortoises indicate their movement pattern, pace, and location. As a part of the research study, factors like health condition, body weight, behaviour patterns, adaptation to wild foraging, etc are also being documented. The Satellite tags combined with radio-transmitters are attached to the carapace of the tortoises which is the dorsal portion of its shell.
Kartick Satyanarayan, Co-founder & CEO Wildlife SOS said, “The satellite tags have been installed on rescued tortoises with permission of Chief Wildlife Warden which will help monitor post-release survival.”
Dr. Arun. A. Sha Director- Research & Veterinary Operations, Wildlife SOS said, “The Star Tortoises were first released in a specially designed enclosure as a part of the soft release procedure to prepare the animals for the final release into the wild. This was a crucial time as we had to allow the star tortoises to get acclimatized to the transmitters on their backs. This project will help us study their feeding ecology and to identify their preferred microhabitats in this region.”
Sanjay Mohan, IFS – PCCF (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden, Karnataka said, “This is the first time this species is re-introduced in the wild and survival monitored using satellite tags. This study will help pave a path for future re-introduction efforts in the state.”
Also Read: Passerby saves an endangered star shelled tortoise
Indian star tortoise (Geochelone Elegans) is protected under Indian law and listed in Appendix II of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna). Yet it is one of the most trafficked tortoise species in the world, in the pet trade, for meat and body parts in traditional Chinese medicine. The rising demand is fueling illegal trafficking of tortoises from India to South East Asia.
Images and story provided by Wildlife SOS
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