Smuggling the Stars: Illegal Trade of the Indian Star Tortoise
On May 1, PfA Wildlife Rescue & Conservation Centre faced the grim reality of illegal wildlife trade yet again. We responded to a call from a bus conductor and rescued 218 Indian Star tortoises, which were all tightly packed into three small bags. They were all juveniles, ranging between just a week old to 4 to 5 years old. Unfortunately, one of them had already succumbed to the horrendous conditions in which these tortoises were being transported. The demand for the Indian Star Tortoise in the exotic pet market is fueled largely, but not entirely by the superstitions that surround the animal. Some believe that the star tortoise can fix the “Vaastu” of a house or simply bring good luck to the house it’s kept in. Others, allured by the beautiful patterns of the shell, simply want to keep them as pets. You might be wondering “But why shouldn’t they be kept as pets?”. Other than the fact that it’s illegal, there are various reasons why keeping them as pets is harmful...