Tortoise trade

The Indian Star Tortoise (Gekoche)
lone elegans) is being sold openly
India and international trade in the
endangered species is thriving.
Listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species, Appendix II, and in the
Indian Wild Life (Protection) Act,
1972, the small tortoise, measuring
about 35 cm in length, is popular
as a pet. In south India alone,i an
estimated 10,000-15,000 tortoises
are sold each year. A large number
have recently been smuggled from
India to Southeast Asia, Europe
and North America. The tortoise is
also valued for its meat. It is
also used in native medicines and
the shells are sometimes sold as
jewellery boxes (TRAFFIC Bulletin,
Vol 16, No 3).