The Hindu Business Line : Star tortoises return from Malaysia

NEARLY 500 star-backed tortoises, the cute little animals sought after as pets and by illegal traders, seized by Malaysian authorities in the capital Kaula Lumpur in July have been flown in to the Nehru Zoological Park here.

The illegal consignment of these animals smuggled out from the country in two bags were confiscated by the Malaysian authorities on July 24 and temporarily housed at the Department of National Parks.

The rich haul of these tortoises was brought to the Nehru Zoo by the Regional Deputy Director, Wildlife Preservation, Chennai, Mr Subramanyam. The decision to make Hyderabad the home for these star-backed tortoises was taken after discussions between the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Central Zoo Authority and the Chief Wildlife Warden of Andhra Pradesh.

Interestingly, in August 2002 a huge consignment of 1,800 of these tortoises smuggled out of Chennai were seized in Singapore and brought to the Nehru Zoological Park.

According to the State wildlife officials these star backed tortoises would be rehabilitated in select protected areas of Andhra Pradesh. The habitat survey and analysis to identify these places is already underway.

The State Forest Department is also working with the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) to use the DNA fingerprinting technique to study the genetics and evolve methods of better conservation of these tortoises.

These tortoises found in south India and Sri Lanka have become the targets of illegal traders, who reach them to lucrative markets in South Asia, Europe and the US. Because of this, the beautiful tortoises with star shaped shells and living up to 35 years on land have been pushed to the danger of becoming extinct.

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