Red-Crowned roofed turtle

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    India has put forward a proposal to better protect a species of freshwater reptile called the red-crowned roofed turtle (Batagur kachuga) under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

    About

    • Scientific Name : Batagur kachuga
    •  The turtle, native to India and Bangladesh, is at a high risk of extinction
    •  It inhabits large swift-flowing rivers with sandy bottoms. 
    • Threats : It is highly susceptible to major hydrological projects and their impacts on river flow dynamics and nesting beaches, and water pollution
      • Overharvesting the animal for illegal consumption and illegal international trade are other reasons for its extinction threat. 
    • Protection Status :
      • It is already classified as critically endangered under the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List. 
      • It is included in CITES Appendix II
      • It  is protected under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972 (amended).

    CITES 

    • CITES is an agreement regulating the movement across international borders of certain wild animal and plant species.
    • The species covered by CITES are listed in three Appendices as per the degree of protection they need:
      • Appendix I includes species threatened with extinction
      • Appendix II includes species not necessarily threatened with extinction but (where trade must be controlled)
      • Appendix III contains species that are protected in at least one country, which has asked other CITES parties for assistance in controlling the trade

    Source:DTE

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