indian flap-shell turtle (credit: Saleem Hameed)
You would expect to find rare and endangered species living in a zoo being well looked after and cared for by the staff. But when ducklings started to go missing at a zoo in Coimbatore, India it led to the discovery of a population of rare carnivorous turtles living in the duck enclosure.
The population of 25 protected Indian Flap-shell turtle comprised 14 adults and 9 hatchlings. They had made their home in the duck pond of the enclosure that housed the zoos Manila ducks. The turtles are thought to have lived in the zoo for a number of years and the adults were happily munching their way through the Manila duck chicks.
Turtles discovered during investigation of missing ducklings.
Zoo director, K Asokan, explained to the Times of India, ”I am curious as to how they managed to escape our notice. The zoo staff was clueless about why the chicks were disappearing.”
The turtles, who spend a lot of their time underwater, were discovered when the pool was drained and flushed while staff investigated the chicks deaths. The turtles are now starring in their own enclosure, have their own pool and being fed on mutton chops.
Indian flap-shell turtle protected in India.
The Indian flap-shell turtle is protected under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972. It is also covered by Schedule 1 of the CITES Convention.
The Indian flap-shell turtle is a freshwater turtle that is often hunted in India and Bangladesh. It is a popular source of food and the price of its meat on international markets is increasing.
The turtle will feed on a range of food in the wild including frogs, shrimps and fish. The turtle is an omnivore so will also happily feed on plant material such as grasses and leaves in addition to meat and fish.
Zoo duck pond is ideal habitat for freshwater turtle.
A duck pond at a zoo is an ideal habitat for these fresh water turtles as they prefer slow-moving or stagnant waters. It’s even better if the ponds or rivers have a sandy or mud bank or bottom as it allows them to burrow with ease.
The shell is also used in traditional Chinese and Indian medicines. In India it is believed that medicine from the shell can cure TB and Chinese herbalists sell medicine from the shell as a cure for skin diseases.
Other threats to the Indian flap-shell turtle include loss of habitat as dams and barrages alter its normal river bank habitat. Increasing droughts also impact on those populations that choose to make their home in small ponds such as the deserts of Bangladesh. While the turtles can enter a state of dormancy – estivation – during the dry season many will die of dehydration during long-lasting drought.
External sites:
Times of India: Missing ducks lead to discovery of rare tortoises at city zoo
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