Village committees vow to protect endangered tortoises

October 24, 2021 41 Views No Comment

DIMAPUR , October 24: Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA)-India, an organisation dedicated to the protection of tortoises and turtles on Saturday, signed a long-term agreement with four village committees under Baghty division, Wokha at Baghty town hall for conservation and protection of endangered tortoises and turtles and their habitats.

TSA informed that the four villages Baghty, Upper Baghty Makharong, and Soku were identified as one of the potential locations for turtle and tortoise conservation.

Under a long-term official partnership, Nagaland forest department and TSA India have been attempting conservation breeding of Asian Giant Tortoise (Manouria emys) at Nagaland zoological garden, Dimapur.

As part of the next step, potential locations are being evaluated and documented for future releases of resulted hatchlings, TSA informed.

Conservationists fear that a few hundred individuals of this species are surviving throughout its range in North east India including Nagaland, TSA informed.

To mark the occasion, 55 indigenous plants were also planted by local communities while information signage on the species and future participatory effort were installed on the road leading to Baghty. The meeting was attended by 40 community members.

The programme was conducted under the guidance and support from divisional forest officer Wokha, Suman S.S. and staff.

Source: http://www.nagalandpost.com/village-committees-vow-to-protect-endangered-tortoises/242962.html