Page 49 - Ex-Situ Updates - Double Edition

Information on the historic, as well as present

distribution records for the species in the wild, is being
collected by the project team to attempt pilot release
once the juveniles attain a weight of 1000 grams.
Upon identification of safe habitat, a detailed habitat
evaluation will be carried out as per the IUCN

protocols. Phase-wise reintroduction (or
supplementation) will be carried out post
supplementation) will be carried out post
comprehensive health assessment, release, and

monitoring of juveniles through GPS-based
radio-telemetry. For ensuring the survival of released
individuals, support from local ethnic groups would be
critical, and engagement with various groups will be
continually managed. Further, the plan would be to

use selected community forests as local release sites
use selected community forests as local release sites
through stakeholder support. Local village youth will
be involved as field assistants.

Acknowledgements: We sincerely thank the Government of Nagaland, Central Zoo Authority, Wildlife
Conservation Trust, Wildlife Conservation Society- India, Vicky Hudson Memorial Fund, San Antonio Zoo, British

Chelonia Group for supporting this project over the years. Mr. Ved Pal Singh, Chief Wildlife Warden, Nagaland,
Mr. Obed Swu, Officer Incharge, Nagaland Zoological Park Dimapur thanked him for all the support. TSA thanks
its field staff Mr. Nathan Haislip, Mr. Lalit Budhani, and Sushmita Kar for their assistance with carrying out this

project.

Asian Brown Tortoise | Photo: Shailendra Singh

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