India Turtle Conservation Program (ITCP)

• ITCP is a programme under the Turtle Survival Alliance formed in 2001.
• It undertakes conservation, research, and community outreach programmes, primarily in the Ganga-Brahmaputra plains that bring turtles and other lesser known aquatic wildlife such as gangetic dolphins and crocodilians and their habitats on the conservation map of the country.

Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA)

• A global conservation organization established in 2001 in response to the Asian Turtle Crisis. 
• Its mission is to achieve “zero turtle extinctions in the 21st century” by protecting tortoises and freshwater turtles through field conservation, captive assurance colonies, and community capacity-building.
• TSA’s three-pronged approach includes:
  • Restoring wild populations through habitat protection and research.
  • Securing species in captivity via breeding programs.
  • Empowering local communities as conservation stewards.

Turtle Survival Alliance Foundation – India (TSAFI)

• TSAFI, established in 2016, is the Indian arm of TSA, consolidating the earlier Indian Turtle Conservation Program (ITCP). It focuses on India’s endemic and endangered turtle species through field projects, research, and community engagement.

About Zeliang

• The Zeliang are a Naga tribe of Peren district, Nagaland, comprising Zeme, Liangmai, and Rongmei groups.
• They practice jhum cultivation, celebrate Hega festival, and actively conserve forests through community reserves.
• Role of Naga Youth: Local youths have been engaged as ‘tortoise guardians’ to protect tortoises and assist in data collection. The project strengthens community participation and awareness in wildlife conservation.