{"id":146219,"date":"2024-12-09T19:19:18","date_gmt":"2024-12-09T13:49:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/?post_type=current-affairs&#038;p=146219"},"modified":"2024-12-09T19:19:18","modified_gmt":"2024-12-09T13:49:18","slug":"indian-star-tortoise","status":"publish","type":"current-affairs","link":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/indian-star-tortoise","title":{"rendered":"Indian Star Tortoise"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite conservation efforts and vigilance for Indian Star Tortoise\u00a0 , officials have seized hundreds of tortoises being smuggled through the<\/span><b> Chennai and Singapore airports<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and across the <\/span><b>India-Bangladesh border.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>About Indian Star Tortoise<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-146177 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/94-6756dc84c64ad.webp\" alt=\"Indian Star Tortoise\" width=\"400\" height=\"270\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/94-6756dc84c64ad.webp 737w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/94-6756dc84c64ad-300x202.webp 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Indian star tortoise (Geochelone elegans)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is distinguished by its <\/span><b>obsidian shell with striking Sun-yellow star patterns.<\/b><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They are popular as<\/span><b> exotic pets<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. However, owning them is illegal in India and considered unethical due to their vulnerable status in the wild.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Habitat:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The Indian star tortoise inhabits<\/span><b> dry and open environments<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> such as scrub forests, grasslands, and rocky outcroppings.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Geographic Distribution: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Central and Southern parts of India, West Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Threats:\u00a0<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Habitat Fragmentation:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Urbanization and agricultural activities have led to the fragmentation of their habitats.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Loss of Genetic Diversity: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hybridization poses a significant threat to their genetic diversity.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Illegal Trade:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> According to the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau,<\/span><b> 90% of the trade <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">involving the Indian star tortoise is linked to the <\/span><b>international pet market.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Genetically Distinct Groups:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> A study by the Wildlife Institute of India and Panjab University identified two genetically distinct groups:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Northwestern Group:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Relatively unchanged genetically.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Southern Group<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Displays high genetic diversity.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Genetic divergence between these groups is traced back approximately<\/span><b> 2 million years, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">driven by<\/span><b> climatic changes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and the<\/span><b> division of humid and arid regions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Food Habits:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Indian star tortoises are<\/span><b> herbivores,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> feeding primarily on plant material.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Activity Pattern: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This species is <\/span><b>diurnal.<\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>Conservation Status<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>IUCN Status<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Vulnerable<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>CITES Listing:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Appendix I<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Wildlife Protection Act 1972: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Schedule IV<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pw.live\/batches\/upsc\/pw-only-ias?utm_source=seo+upsc+batch&#038;utm_medium=seo+upsc&#038;utm_campaign=seo&#038;utm_id=upsc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Enroll now for UPSC Online Classes<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Conservation Challenges<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Unscientific Releases:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Mixing individuals from distinct genetic groups could lower diversity and reduce breeding rates.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Captive Issues:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Shell pyramiding, caused by nutritional deficiencies in captivity, complicates breeding.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Awareness and Law Enforcement: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lack of public awareness about illegal ownership and adherence to wildlife laws.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"vc_table_green\"><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 99.6375%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 111.19%; 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