Context:
Recently, nesting site of Cantor’s giant softshell turtle was discovered on banks of the Chandragiri River in Kerala.
Cantor’s Giant Softshell Turtle:
- Also called Asian giant softshell turtle.
- Native – South and Southeast Asia
- Including Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia and India.
- Habitat – Inland, slow-moving, freshwater rivers, lakes, streams, and estuaries but also extends to coastal areas.
- Protection status
- IUCN – Critically Endangered (CR)
- CITES – Appendix II
- Wildlife Protection Act,1972 – Schedule 1
- Features –
- Exceptionally large freshwater turtle – Grows nearly 1m in length and weigh more than 100 Kgs.
- Have broad head with eyes close to the tip of the snout, a frog-like appearance and so the name ‘Frog Head Turtle’.
- Diet – Primarily carnivores (piscivores) feeding on fish, crustaceans, and mollusks but may also eat some aquatic plants.
- Significance –
- Secretive Nature – They mostly lie buried and motionless under the sand, with their eyes and mouth protruding out.
- They comes to the surface only twice a day to take a breath and capture their prey
- They use a ‘sit-and-wait’ strategy using an element of surprise to catch the prey.
- Threat –accidental killing, destruction of its freshwater and coastal habitats, catching for meat etc.
Chandragiri River:
- State – Kerala
- Also known as the Perumpuzha River
- Significance –
- 1st breeding site of Cantor’s giant softshell turtle in India.
- Longest river in Kasaragod district
- Tributary – Payaswini river
Source: BBC
Previous Year Question
Which one of the following makes a tool with a stick to scrape insects from a hole in a tree or a log of wood?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2023 Prelims]
(a) Fishing cat
(b) Orangutan
(c) Otter
(d) Sloth bear
Answer: (d)
