Naga tribal youths step up to save Asian Giant Tortoise in Nagaland

Left: Sushmita Kar alongside two local 'Tortoise Guardians'. Right: Captive-raised Asian Giant Tortoises ready for release. (Image: Turtle Survival Alliance India.)

In a major conservation effort, ten captive-bred Asian giant tortoises were released into the wild in Nagaland’s Peren district on Saturday. Local youth, including Iteichube from the Zeliang Naga tribe, have joined hands as community guardians to protect the critically endangered species.

The release was part of the Indian Turtle Conservation Programme (ITCP), a joint initiative by the state forest department and Turtle Survival Alliance India to revive the species in its natural habitat.

These tortoises were bred and raised at Nagaland Zoological Park, home to India’s largest captive group of this species. C. Zupeni Tsanglai, director of the zoo, said the aim is to bring the species back into the wild safely.

Tortoise guardians and tech help track survival

Local Naga youth like Iteichube are now trained as "tortoise guardians". They help monitor the species and raise awareness to stop hunting. They also work with forest teams to track the animals.

Each tortoise is marked and fitted with VHF-based telemetry tags to track its movement. The pilot release will help study their survival and patterns in the dense rainforest. If successful, more tortoises will be added to this protected area.

Why these forest giants matter

The Asian Giant Tortoises, also known as “small elephants of the forest”, can weigh up to 36 kilograms. They play a big role in forest regeneration by spreading seeds and cleaning the forest floor.

Shailendra Singh of ITCP said fewer than 500 adult wild individuals may remain in the region. The biggest threats are hunting and habitat loss, especially due to jhum or slash-and-burn farming practices.

Sushmita Kar, ITCP’s project coordinator, said the team will continue data collection and awareness drives. They hope to inspire more tribal communities to protect these shy and ancient reptiles.