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Ecology & Environment
Mahesh

26/11/22 06:07 AM IST

Leith’s Softshell Turtle

In News 
  • India’s proposal for transferring Leith’s Softshell Turtle from Appendix II to Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora (CITES) to provide greater protection has been adopted by the Conference of Parties (CoP) to CITES in its 19th Meeting at Panama.
About Leith’s Softshell Turtle
  • Leith’s softshell turtle is a large freshwater soft-shelled turtle that is endemic to peninsular India.
  • It has been subject to intense exploitation over the past 30 years for poaching and illegal consumption within India. It has been illegally traded to foreign countries for meat and its calipee.
  • This species’ population has fallen by 90 per cent over the past 3 decades and is now very difficult to find.
  • It is classified as “critically endangered” in the IUCN Red List.
  • The turtle has been listed on Schedule IV of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, which gives protection from hunting and trading. However, this protection failed to save the species from poaching and illegal trade. Seizures of thousands of specimens are reported every year.
Significance 
  • It will help prevent commercial trade of this critically endangered species.
  • It will ensure that the international trade of captive-bred specimens only takes place in registered facilities and that higher and more appropriate penalties are given for illegal trade.
Source- Hindustan Times 

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