10 critically endangered Asian Giant Tortoises were reintroduced into a community reserve in Peren district on August 2, marking a significant step in conservation efforts in the region.
• Community youths engaged as “Tortoise Guardians”
• Phase-wise releases to recover wild AGT populations
PEREN, AUGUST 4 (MExN): Ten captive-raised Asian Giant Tortoises, a critically endangered species, were reintroduced into a community reserve in Peren district on August 2, marking a significant step in conservation efforts in the region.
The release was carried out through a community event jointly organised by the Nagaland State Forest Department and the India Turtle Conservation Programme (ITCP). The tortoises were bred and reared at the conservation facility in Nagaland Zoological Park, which houses the largest captive population of this species in India.
“These tortoises were bred and headstarted from a conservation colony at Nagaland Zoological Park,” said C. Zupeni Tsanglai, Director of the park. “We aim to save this species from extinction through conservation breeding and reintroduction, supported by awareness initiatives involving local communities.”
Asian Giant Tortoises, often referred to as "small elephants of the forest," play a vital ecological role by aiding seed dispersal, forest regeneration, and scavenging on the forest floor, said Shailendra Singh of ITCP.
The reintroduction site was selected after a detailed habitat suitability assessment across multiple locations in Nagaland. “Apart from National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries, protected areas like Community and Conservation Reserves in Nagaland have shown remarkable success in forest and wildlife conservation under joint community and forest department stewardship,” explained Tokaho Kinimi, Wildlife Warden, Dimapur.
The released tortoises were placed in a pre-constructed soft-release enclosure to help them develop site fidelity before dispersal. Each individual was marked and fitted with VHF telemetry tags to track movement and monitor survival in the rainforest. “If this pilot release proves successful, more individuals will be introduced to help recover the decimated wild population,” said Sushmita Kar, Project Coordinator, ITCP.
Before release, the tortoises underwent over six months of quarantine and health screening.
To ensure post-release protection, local youth have been engaged as 'Tortoise Guardians' to assist in monitoring and data collection. “Their involvement is key to the long-term success of this project,” Chisayi, Divisional Forest Officer, Peren highlighted.
As part of the event, a Turtle and Tortoise information corner was inaugurated at the local community hall to raise awareness and showcase the conservation efforts led by the local population. “Special measures will be taken for the long-term protection of the released tortoises by the district administration,” said D. Robin, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Peren.
The release event was attended by senior officials including the Wildlife Warden of Dimapur, the Director of Nagaland Zoological Park, DFO Peren, ADC Peren, and the President of the Nagaland Zeliang People Organisation, among others. The project team expressed gratitude to the Chief Wildlife Warden of Nagaland for support and guidance throughout the process.
