Northeast India along Indo-Myanmar hotspot harbours a rich repository of biodiversity with its pristine habitats and some of the rarest species. Asian Giant Tortoise (Manouria emys), the largest tortoise in mainland Asia is inching closer towards its ‘extinction’, and requires some exigent actions to save them. A long history of over-exploitation and a lack of awareness have led to unsustainable rates of consumption by tribal communities and brought the species to the brink of functional extinction, now warranting rigorous conservation interventions. Nevertheless, replenishing the wild populations in the forests of northeast India can only be achieved via a strongly interlinked in-situ and ex-situ conservation approaches.

Jointly with Nagaland Zoological Park, the Turtle Survival Alliance Foundation India has developed the largest conservation breeding colony for the species in the country with over hundred head-started individuals alongside documentation of captive populations at six regional facilities. Extensive habitat and community surveys were conducted, apart from outreach and awareness exercises in 12 indigenous villages in Wokha over the last two years, culminating into signing conservation agreements with four village committees. Through a multi-faceted approach the project aims to proceed with strengthening of conservation breeding, annual rewilding efforts, increased awareness and sense of stewardship among ethnic tribal communities and government stakeholders towards the eventual wild population recovery.

Conservation Breeding Program

Largest conservation breeding colony in India with nearly 100 founder and captive bred individuals. Eyeing a fleeting hope to replenish the wild populations via a regional conservation breeding programme, and the possible existence of fragmented populations left in the wild, TSAF India team was able to document captive populations of Asian Giant Tortoise at six institutions following extensive surveys at 15 zoos across eight regional states of India. Consequently, a conservation breeding program was initiated in 2018 in collaboration with Nagaland Zoological Park. A turtle monitoring station cum incubation facility was successfully established renovating a defunct building in the zoo. An electric incubator was installed this year to facilitate higher hatching success.

Historic Survey of Manouria emys

Considering the recent animal donations and historical habitat preference of M. e. phayrei, the species recovery program for the species was expanded to the next stage by documenting the extant wild population and evaluation of the probable release habitats for pilot reintroduction of captive reared individuals. Community Conserved Area at Okotso, Wokha district and four villages of Niuland district viz. Kuhoxu, Hovishe, Hovokhu and Hezulho were surveyed.10 tribal members engaged with the team and assured their support in field surveys. This would aid our efforts to document the extant wild population of M. e. phayrei,and document historical habitat preference and probable release habitats for pilot reintroduction of captive reared individuals.

Rewildling

Pilot reintroduction and monitoring of captive bred tortoises to study survival and dispersal of the individuals in Intanki National Park. The landmark step of re-wilding ten radio-tagged captive bred tortoises at Intanki National Park was conducted in December, 2022 marking the first monitored release of the species in India after over five years of conservation breeding effort. Following successful release, the project team with utmost support from the Intanki National Park staff, has been constantly monitoring the condition of the tortoises and enclosure, and documenting the behaviour of the tortoises, including their dietary and habitat preferences.

Threat amelioration through community participatory approach

Community awareness programs with local stakeholders and celebration of important environment/wildlife related days. The project significantly attempted to generate mass awareness among key stakeholders in order to demand a minimum threat setting for the survival of the highly threatened tortoises, via outreach programmes with over 500 indigenous members from 15 villages, majorly including Lotha, Sema, Zeliang and Kachari sub-tribes of the Naga tribe, in addition to education cum awareness events with over 2500 individuals from several academic institutions, visitors at Nagaland Zoological Park and other public places on freshwater turtle and tortoise conservation, besides celebrating the biological important days. The project also involves youths from the Naga community whom were trained in radiotelemetry and animal husbandary and were also employed through the project.