![](https://www.nextias.com/ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/4469437Screenshot_6.png)
Context
- The presence of the red-eared slider turtle, an invasive species, in the public water bodies of Kerala has become a cause for concern.
About
- The major concern is as it not only destroys the aqua ecosystem (extinction of native species) but also carries a bacteria which is harmful to the human body. Hence, it is known to be a major invasive alien species.
- India is home to 29 freshwater turtles and tortoise species of the 356 turtle species recognised worldwide and around 80 per cent of them are threatened.
- In India, keeping indigenous turtles as pets is prohibited under the wildlife protection act. But the foreign breeds are not restricted and are kept as pets in many families across India.
- These small and easy-to-maintain species are a hit in the pets market. The species breeds faster compared to other local turtle varieties.
- In India, it is widely found in urban wetlands, such as — Sukhna lake in Chandigarh, temple ponds of Guwahati, lakes of Bengaluru, Sanjay Gandhi national park in Mumbai, Yamuna river in Delhi — among other water bodies
Red-eared Slider Turtle
- About:
- The red-eared slider is a freshwater turtle with a distinctive red strip behind each ear.
- The red-eared slider are native to south-eastern USA and Mexico, but have found their way across the globe including India through trade of exotic animals,
- Scientific Name: Trachemys scripta elegans
- Distinctive features:
- They have a broad red or orange stripe behind each eye with narrow yellow stripes marking the rest of the black body, neck, legs and tail.
- Their shell is dome-shaped, likened to the shape of a helmet.
- Threat to ecosystem: The red-eared slider turtles are considered a major threat to native turtle specials, as they mature fast, grow larger, and produce more offspring, and are very aggressive. They can out-compete native turtles for food, nestling, and basking sites.
- Studies show that they can also transfer diseases and parasites to native reptile species.
- The Red-Eared Slider Turtle is considered to be one of the world’s worst invasive species.
- Conservation: It is not mentioned in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
- The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) releases the world’s 100 most invasive species, and the Red-Eared Slider Turtle is included in this list
Invasive Plant Species: Water Hyacinth
|
What can be done to control the invasion?
- These turtles should be restrained, captivated and sent to local zoos.
- Measures needed to prevent more red-eared slider turtles from entering water bodies and take mitigation steps by government officials and environmentalists to address the issue.
- Manual intervention to procure and rehabilitate these turtles from urban wetlands. A campaign to declare or give up turtles should be held to take these turtles in custody
Invasive Alien Species (IAS)
|
Source: DTE
Previous article
UNDP’s Human Development Index
Next article
Project 17A ‘Taragiri’