Breakthrough in Asian Giant Tortoise conservation in Manipur

IMPHAL — Manipur Zoological Garden (MZG) and India Turtle Conservation Programme (ITCP) conducted the first successful artificial incubation of Asian giant tortoises (Manouria emys phayrei) this year where 28 hatchlings emerged from a single nest.

The MZG located at the foothill Langol hill range at Eroishemba in the outskirts of Imphal, is one the smallest in India. But the Central Zoo Authority of India has categorised it as a medium zoo based on the diversity of birds and animals it houses.

The Asian giant tortoise is a critically endangered species and native to northeast Indian states such as Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram, Assam and Meghalaya.

Making headway with the conservation of these tortoises, MZG is now all set to initiate a conservation breeding programme, with the aim to release them in the wild.

Also read: Asian Giant Tortoises reintroduced in Nagaland’s Peren district

This will contribute to increasing the numbers of this highly threatened species and return them back to their native habitats. The MZG also conducted a one-day capacity building workshop in collaboration with ITCP on August 21, focussed on training 25 zoo-keepers and frontline forest staff on conservation and management of tortoises and freshwater turtles.

“As valued as MZG is for the flagship breeding of Sangai (or brow-antlered deer), we look forward to initiating the conservation of another magnificent yet lesser-known reptile, the Asian giant tortoises.

Dedicated facilities will be developed and efforts will be put to conduct successful breeding of the species every year and continue with phase-wise releases in the wild", said Director L Biramangol Singh of MZG.

The hatchlings are now under proper husbandry care and it is believed to be an important landmark event in the field of tortoise and turtle conservation in the state.

“We will simultaneously conduct assessments for suitable habitats for the species and collect information on its native distribution ranges in different districts of Manipur to understand their population status and address the specific conservation requirements for Asian Giant Tortoises in Manipur,” Project Coordinator Sushmita Kar of ITCP said.

The initiative has been actively supported by the MZG team under supervision of the Chief Wildlife Warden, Manipur, she added.