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Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises of Kaziranga National Park and Their Conservation

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Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises of Kaziranga National Park and Their Conservation FRESHWATER TURTLES AND TORTOISES OF KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK AND THEIR CONSERVATION Rajeev Basumatary, D.R. College, Golaghat & Rabindra Sarma, WLRO, Kaziranga National Park. Twenty nine species of tortoises and freshwater turtles occur in India and the Northeastern India has the largest species diversity with 21 species. Nevertheless, most of these records are from Brahmaputra plain and adjoining areas in lower eastern Himalayas. Recently, the Brahmaputra drainage has been identified as world’s highest priority freshwater turtle conservation area (Buhlmann et al., 2009) and in this region the Kaziranga National Park (KNP) is the largest remaining natural habitat of Brahmaputra drainage, known to harbor 17 species of Northeastern regional freshwater turtle and tortoise diversity (Ahmed & Das, 2009; Basumatary & Sharma, 2013). The chelonian species recorded so far from KNP are Nilssonia hurum, N. gangeticus, N. nigricans, Chitra indica, Lissemys punctata, Pangshura sylhetensis, P. tecta, P. tentoria, P. smithii, Geoclemys hamiltonii, Hardella thurjii, Cuora amboinensis, Melanochelys tricarinata, Cyclemys gemeli, Morenia petersi, Cuora mouhotii and Manouria emys phayrei (Ahmed & Das, 2009; Basumatary & Sharma, 2013). Among them three species, Morenia petersi was reported from the park without any locality record and Manouria emys was recorded from nearby Karbi-anglong Hills by Choudhury (1996, 2004) and Cuora mouhotii record by Ahmed and Das (2009) was based on two shells from Borjuri village, which were reportedly collected from Panbari RF area of Kaziranga. The rest species are reported from the floodplain part of KNP in various habitats including Brahmaputra River (see Table.2). The Brahmaputra River, Jiya Difolu River and Wetlands are the most important reservoirs of turtles. However chelonians are threatened by human exploitations in Brahmaputra, Mora Difolu and Reserved Forest patches at Karbi-anglong foot hills. The Brahmaputra river and its sandy deposition (Sixth addition) shelters most numbers of turtle species of KNP (n=11) and provide nesting habitat. Two slow flowing rivers, Mora and Jiya Difolu of the park, which is only 0.69% of the total area, is a critical habitat for chelonians in KNP, where 8 numbers of species (N. nigricans, L. punctata, P. 86 Tiger Conservation Plan- Kaziranga Tiger reserve (Core Area) sylhetensis, P. tentoria, P. tecta, P. smithii, G. hamiltonii and H. thurjii) are recorded. The endangered P. sylhetensis is found to prefer this habitat than other habitat types. Nine species of turtles are found in various lakes and marshes. The nearby Reserve Forests in the Karbi Anglong foot hills is also an important turtle and tortoise habitat; the Endangered Cuora mouhotii, the only tortoise species from park Manouria emys phayrei and recently described species of leaf turtle Cyclemys gemeli are reported from this habitat (Basumatary & Sharma, 2013). Most of the chelonians recorded from Kaziranga NP are included in the threatened category in IUCN Red list, 2012. Among recorded C. indica, P. sylhetensis, C. mouhotii and M. emys are ‘Endangered’ and N. nigricans is in ‘Extinct in Wild’ category. However, presence of wild populations of N. nigricans has been reported by Ahmed and Das (2009) from Kaziranga National Park. In the context of Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, 7 species are in Schedule I and 4 in Schedule IV category. Moreover, 14 species are listed in CITES (2011) Appendix I and II (see Table.3). Recently, C. indica and N. nigricans have been included in World’s Most Endangered Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles With High Risk Of Extinction list (Rhodin et al., 2011). Thus the Kaziranga National Park is a very critical habitat for freshwater turtle and tortoise conservation, which harbours some very rare and most endangered chelonians of Assam in particular and India in general. For instance, the wild population of ‘Extinct in wild’ N. nigricans (Black softshell turtle) was reported from the park, majority population of ‘Endangered’ P. sylhetensis (Assam roofed turtle) is found in Kaziranga and also harbours other most endangered chelonians like M. emy phayrei (Asian Brown Tortoise), C. mouhotii (Keeled box turtle) and C. indica (Narrow headed softshell turtle). The turtles are well preserved in the mainland Kaziranga but it is highly exploited in Brahmaputra River (Sixth addition area) especially in Bishwanath Ghat where turtles are caught as fishery bycatch and exposed to the poachers. Turtles caught from Brahmaputra and Difolu (Mora) are sold in various markets in Bokakhat and Bishwanath Ghat (Praschag & Gemel, 2002; Ahmed and Das, 2009; Frazier and Das, 1994). Moreover the forest patches in Karbi-anglong foothills also need special attention and have to be freed from anthropogenic disturbances. Ahmed and Das (2009) reported that annual grassland burning practice also tends to upset the Kaziranga turtle population, especially the grassland dwellers. 87 Tiger Conservation Plan- Kaziranga Tiger reserve (Core Area) Threats to Kaziranga Chelonians- 1. Fishery Bycatch due to extensive fishing in Brahmaputra as well as Bishwanath Ghat in particular and Mora Difolu river. 2. Habitat degradation due to mining and deforestation in Karbi-anglong foothill and siltation in wetlands. 3. Management Grassland burning. 4. Collection of logs from rivers (e.g. Brahmaputra), that provide basking habitat. 5. Egg collection, as reported in some chars. Management implications- 1. Extensive conservation measures are needed in Karbi-anglong foothill forests along with strict vigil and regulation in firewood collection and mining. 2. Immediate Regulation of fishing activities in sixth addition area (including Bishwanath Ghat) and Mora Difolu river is required. In Bishwanath Ghat 9 species of turtles including 3 endangered species are found to be affected by unregulated fishing (Basumatary, unpublished data). The fishing gears which are kept for long in water like ‘Gill nets’ should be banned, as turtles die comparatively more in such gears than others due to asphyxiation. Also use of alternative ‘turtle exclusion fishing gears’ having escape windows, developed by researchers worldwide will reduce turtle bycatch. 3. Removal of logs from wetlands and rivers both from Difolu and Brahmaputra river has to be stopped to preserve their basking habitat. 4. Awareness programs among fisher community in particular and other inhabitants in general, in the park boundary about turtles and tortoises and use of appropriate fishing gears, will help in survival of turtles. 5. Setting up of a Chelonian Research and Rescue facility, particularly in Bishwanath Ghat will reduce the turtle mortality due to bycatch. 88 Tiger Conservation Plan- Kaziranga Tiger reserve (Core Area) Table.1. Common English and Assamese names of Kaziranga turtles and tortoises Species Common English name Assamese Name(s) Nilssonia hurum Peacock Softshell Turtle Bor Kaso/ Chokori Kaso Nilssonia nigricans Black Softshell Turtle Bor Kaso Nilssonia gangeticus Indian Softshell Turtle Laomura Kaso Chitra indica Narrow headed Softshell Baghia Kaso Turtle Lissemys punctata andersonii Indian Flapshell Turtle Bagh Dura/ Halodhiya Phutuki Kaso Pangshura sylhetensis Assam Roofed Turtle Salika Dura Pangshura tentoria Indian Tent Turtle Salika Dura Pangshura tecta Indian Roofed Turtle Phutuki Salika Dura Pangshura smithii Brown Roofed Turtle Muga Dura Geoclemys hamiltonii Spotted Pond Turtle Nol Dura Hardella thurjii Crowned River Turtle Kaldhap Dura/ Bor dura Cuora amboinensis Malayan Softshell Turtle Jaap Dura Melanochelys tricarinata Tricarinate Hill Turtle Sil Dura/ Paharia Dura Cyclemys gemeli Indian Leaf Turtle Sepeta Dura Cuora mouhotii Keeled Box Turtle Pahari Jaap dura Manouria emys phayrei Asian Brown Tortoise Paharia Kaso Morenia petersi Indian Eyed Turtle _ 89 Tiger Conservation Plan- Kaziranga Tiger reserve (Core Area) Table: 2. Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises so far recorded in different habitat types of KNP (+ sign denotes Presence & - sign denotes absence) (Basumatary & Sharma, 2013) Species Brahmaputra Difolu Woodland Grassland Beels Karbi- anglong Foot hill N. hurum + _ _ _ + _ N. nigricans + + _ _ + _ N. gangeticus + _ _ _ _ _ C. indica + _ _ _ + _ L. punctata + + _ _ + _ P. sylhetensis + + _ _ + _ P. tentoria + + _ _ + _ P. tecta + + _ _ + _ P. smithii + + _ _ _ _ G. hamiltonii + + _ + + _ H. thurjii + + _ + + _ C. amboinensis _ _ + + _ _ M. tricarinata _ _ _ + _ _ C. gemeli _ _ _ _ _ + C. mouhotii _ _ _ _ _ + M. emys phayrei _ _ _ _ _ + M. petersi* NB- * No locality record available 90 Tiger Conservation Plan- Kaziranga Tiger reserve (Core Area) Table: 3. Conservation Status of Chelonians recorded in Kaziranga NP (Basumatary & Sharma, 2013) Scientific Name Indian WLPA , 1972 IUCN Red List(2012) CITES(2011) Family: Trionychidae Nilssonia gangeticus Schedule I VU - A1d+2d Appendix I Nilssonia hurum Schedule I VU - A1cd+2d Appendix I Nilssonia nigricans Schedule IV EW – Extinct in wild Appendix I Chitra indica Schedule IV EN - A1cd+2cd Appendix II Lissemys punctata Schedule I LR/lc Appendix II Family: Geoemydidae Pangshura sylhetensis Schedule I EN - B1+2c Appendix II Pangshura tecta Schedule I LR/lc Appendix I Pangshura smithii Not listed LR/nt Appendix II Pangshura tentoria Not listed LR/lc Appendix II Melanochelys tricarinata Schedule IV VU - B1+2c Appendix I Hardella thurjii Not listed VU -A1cd+2cd Not listed Geoclemys hamiltonii Schedule I VU - A1d+2d Appendix I Cuora amboinensis Not listed VU - A1d+2d Appendix II Cuora mouhotii Not listed EN
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