Leith’s Softshell Turtle

Why in News?

• Recently, the Conference of Parties to CITES adopted India’s proposal to move Leith’s Softshell Turtle from Appendix II to Appendix I.

Highlights

• India’s proposal for inclusion of Jeypore Hill Gecko (Cyrtodactylus jeyporensis) in Appendix II.
• The CITES Appendix I listing of this Turtle species would ensure that legal international trade in the species does not take place for commercial purposes.
• It would also ensure that international trade in captive-bred specimens only takes place from registered facilities and further that higher and more proportionate penalties are provided for illegal trade of the species.
• The listing of the Leith’s soft-shell turtle, thereby, strengthens its CITES protection status to ensure better survival of the species.
• Leith’s Softshell Turtle (Nilssonia leithii) is a large freshwater soft-shelled turtle which is endemic to peninsular India and it inhabits rivers and reservoirs
• The species has been subject to intensive exploitation over the past 30 years.
• It has been poached and illegally consumed within India. It has also been illegally traded abroad for meat and for its calipee.
• The population of this turtle species is estimated to have declined by 90% over the past 30 years such that the species is now difficult to find.