The Rising Threat to Fresh Water Turtles

The focus in the recent past has been on sea turtles. The hard-shell and soft-shell freshwater turtles from Indian Coast are a much neglected group. Except for taxonomic studies and a few stray observations on their life history practically nothing is known of our freshwater turtles. The sign boards displayed by the Forest Departments prohibiting sale of turtles and turtle products mentions the protection of most of marine species only. There is a significant need for a critical appraisal of the population structure and habitat of different species of freshwater turtles to keep watch whether any species needing protection have been left out and need authority to zero in.

An alarm fact, More than 40 per­cent of the plan­et’s fresh­wa­ter tur­tle spe­cies are threat­ened with ex­tinc­tion, mak­ing them among the most threat­ened groups of an­i­mals on the plan­et of which most of us don’t know. Their de­cline is a distinctive in­di­ca­tor to understand the magnitude of the fresh­wa­ter turtles which is getting da­m­aged in a man­ner that could have terrible consequences for peo­ple and tur­tles alike. Sea turtles were of course the most focused reptiles in recent past. Empathy is that the hard-shell and soft-shell freshwater turtles from Indian Coast are the most neglected group as few taxonomic studies and a few stray observations on their life history has been made which gives us a practical impression that we known nothing of our freshwater turtles.

The scenario get worst when having threatened by criminal trade and a local taste, the critically endangered crawling reptiles species (turtles) classified as moving towards death. Bihar and Jharkhand just to name two have emerged as a new threat to the state with a blood stained path of death for these defenseless creatures. Things become better with more of the Figures as it reveal precisely how smuggling through Bihar and Jharkhand with no awareness and concern for aquatic ecosystem is snatching away the lifeline of turtles. The two states have recovered almost 10,000 turtles of various hues from smugglers in the last 5 years.

With no surprise the two states have emerged as safe transit routes for smuggling of freshwater turtles, which reaches out West Bengal.  The assumed aphrodisiac properties in the meat of the terrapin or the fresh-water tortoise raised a big demand in the area. Myths like, consumption of tortoise meat ensures a longer life, as the reptile has a long lifespan over 100 years. The quacks also crush its carapace; mix it with water to prepare a paste, which is applied on the scars on the skin. Turtles are also used as essential ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine and also find their way to the dinner table.  The carapace is also smuggled out of a country, as it earns a good price.

If we listen to what police department says, an organized racket that operates from Uttar Pradesh to West Bengal is behind this smuggling. Tortoises, which are picked from Uttar Pradesh rivers, are sent to Malda (West Bengal) from where these creatures are secretly pushed to the porous boaders of Bangladesh or consumed locally.  So far, the authorities have nabbed only the petty carriers without caring to track the links, which could have fetched them the kingpins of the illegal trade. In one such incident, on January 19, 2008, cops in Hazaribag (Jharkhand) had gunned down two inter-state turtle smugglers who all exchanged rounds of fire. In fact, the Jharkhand cops had to retaliate when the criminals opened fire at the police after the sport utility vehicle (SUV) was intercepted. After the encounter, at least three unidentified smugglers made their escape, while the cops recovered over 300 tortoises, besides pistols and live cartridges. The exchange of fire raised the red alarm and confirmed that only petty carriers are not involved in the turtle trade. The documents recovered from the site gives the insight that the criminals were interstate smugglers having links with Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh. That big-time criminals were involved in the turtle trade was once again established when Uttar Pradesh Police arrested Liyakat Ali and Shakila in December, 2007 the West Bengal based couple, for running a fake currency racket in further Investigations it revealed that the two were also involved in smuggling tortoises.

The matter of fact the turtles are also subjected to extreme cruelty before getting killed. Even the rescued tortoises have been found seriously injured their shells pierced through some sharp pointed material while some had their legs pierced and tied together. Besides, those rescued alive have been found held in unsanitary conditions, exposing them to serious physiological and health problems. Before they are released in their natural habitat, these turtles are required to be treated for parasites and screened for diseases which seldom happens to these creatures.

Incidentally, these harmless gentle creature are facing lots of hardship and struggle for their existence, turtle are an important link in aquatic ecosystem which tells us about the life in water.  The tortoise usually helps keeping the water clean as it feeds on small fishes, aquatic insects and aquatic herbs. A special feature that of the tortoise is it's hibernation that lasts through the winter periods with the beginning of the winters it begins to soothe its active life and rest at the muddy bottom of the waterbed till the summers tend to begin.

(*Some facts were taken from http://www.protectiondesoiseaux.be/index.php/pressreleases/190-turtleindia )