The Nagaland Forest Department released ten Asian Giant Tortoises (Manouria emys phayrei) into the Intanki National Park. Turtle Survival Alliance and Wildlife Conservation Society India also supported this project.
This release is a part of five year conservation effort involving the captive breeding in the Nagaland Zoological Park. Another set of tortoises were released in the Matamuhuri Valley, Chattogram Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. The release of these reptiles into the wilderness is aimed at long term monitoring of the species. It also aims to reintroduce the species in their historic habitat in South and Southeast Asia.
Over exploitation and lack of general awareness about the species has taken this species to a near extinction. Lack of awareness is also responsible of unsustainable use for consumption by local people. And rigorous conservation and education initiatives have become essential to protect the species.
Chief Wildlife Warden of Nagaland, Vedpal Singh mentioned that this pilot project is a major leap in conservation. It is essential in the restoration of an ecologically viable population of Asian Giant Tortoises in Nagaland.
Dr Shailendra Singh is the Principal Investigator of the Joint Asian Giant Tortoise Recovery Project. He mentioned that the pilot project will establish the first ever baseline information. And it will help in the eventual release strategy of the species in the regional scale. The release of the tortoises native to the region will lead to the population replenishment phase.
Nagaland Zoological Park currently has the largest captive Asian Giant Tortoise population of the country. According the Director, Dr C Zupeni Tsanglai , it houses 110 new born and juveniles along with 13 founder adults.
The tortoises are now in a large natural enclosure as a soft release. The authorities will release them into the wilderness in the coming monsoons.
