INDIAN EXPRESS (New Delhi) 25 July 07 Rescued star tortoises to be released in Point Calimere
For more than 1,600 star tortoises rescued by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) since November last year, freedom could be just around the corner. The tortoises, currently housed at Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), Borivali, are likely to be released in Tamil Nadu's Point Calimere Sanctuary by next month, the forest conservator confirmed.
In two separate instances recently, the DRI seized 1,905 tortoises (670 in November 2006 and 1,235 in March 2007) from smugglers who later confessed that the tortoises were being poached from Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. An official in the forest department's anti-poaching cell said, now a total of 1,666 surviving tortoises will be released in their natural habitat.
The official said that two cases had been registered against the offenders under the Wildlife Protection Act, which disallows trade and possession of star tortoise in the country.
"Since the illegal market for star tortoise is so lucrative they are regularly smuggled from their natural habitat. Finally we have received the court order to release the tortoises and the message has been passed on to the Borivali forest department," added the official.
Conservator of Forest Dr P N Munde said, "We have written to B Majumdar, the chief wildlife warden (state) in Nagpur for a final approval. I anticipate the formalities to be complete within a week." Following which, Munde said, he expects to start transporting the amphibians by next month.
According to Sarfaraz Khan, Thane conservator, "Star tortoises are of great demand as a pet in south-east Asian and western countries. The average cost of one star tortoise in illegal markets of the US is as high as $500."
The high temperature, semi-arid, grasslands of Point Calimere-also known as Vedaranyam forests, is the natural habitat of the terrestrial star tortoises.
Munde said that the formalities with the Tamil Nadu wildlife warden's office was complete, and the process of shifting the amphibians just need the state's nod now. Majumdar was unavailable for comment. Meanwhile, the forest officials had earlier claimed that funds of Rs 50,000 would be required for transportation of star tortoises to South India. Munde, however, now refused to quote a price.
Rescued star tortoises to be released in Point Calimere