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This species ranges over large parts of India, southeastern Pakistan
and Sri Lanka. The accelerating use of forests and other natural
resources to meet the increasing demand for agricultural land
to satisfy the basic needs of the rapidly growing population has
led to the destruction of large areas of what once was suitable
habitat for the star tortoise. In addition, tortoises are used
as food in parts of India - a tradition that will quickly endanger
a slow growing and slow reproducing species like the star tortoise
when the density of human population grows quickly as it has in
India recently.
Added to these threats is continued commercial trade, often illegal,
in wild caught Star tortoises. In India, as well as in Southeast
Asia, wild caught specimens, mainly juveniles, can be found in
almost every animal market. A conservative estimate is a yearly
toll on Indian populations of 10-20000 specimens. The species
has been placed on CITES appendix II, which regulates the legal
international trade, and it is also protected under the Indian
Wildlife Act from 1972. Sadly, enforcement of these laws is lacking,
as star tortoises are still openly offered for sale in pet shops.
Stronger enforcement of these laws as well as protection and restoration
of prime tortoise habitat will be necessary to insure the continued
existence of this species for the future.
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