NZP home to highest number of Burmese mountain tortoise in India

Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, Sep. 22: Sixty Burmese mountain tortoises or Asian brown tortoise, as it is popularly known, were artificially hatched inside the Nagaland Zoological Park (NZP) by successfully setting up an incubator and maintaining appropriate temperature and humidity, the zoo’s director Prabhat Kumar informed Eastern Mirror.

The nursery for the Burmese mountain tortoise at NZP was set up in collaboration with Tortoise Survival Alliance (TSA), Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the department of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.

The project was funded by the Vicky Hudson Memorial Fund, San Antonio zoo, and Audubon Nature Institute.

The Burmese mountain tortoise or Asian brown tortoise is the largest tortoise species in mainland Asia and the zoo has a total of sixteen adult individuals and one sub-adult. Kumar also added that the zoo has 60 more Burmese mountain tortoises after the succesful hatchings.

Now the NZP has the highest number of Burmese mountain tortoise in India, he said.

Kumar also mentioned that the NZP would be introducing an e-cart service from September 23 in an attempt to revamp the park. Visitors will be able to hire the cart for INR 200 and ride around the zoo with a guide, at an additional cost.

“It can be quite a pleasant and relaxed experience, especially from the scorching heat in Dimapur,” Kumar said. Another addition to the zoo is the ‘Nature Trail’, which will allow visitors to experience the thrill of wildlife and the natural environment, he added.