ANOTHER NEW SPECIES ADDED TO NANDANKANAN ZOLOGICAL PARK
This time it is a pair of Elongated tortoise Indotestudo elongata . The Elongated or Yellow Tortoise belongs to the Genus Indotestudo . Indotestudo elongata is a medium to large size tortoise. Typically, they are about 30 cm (12 inches) long and 3.5 kg (7 pounds) as an adult though there are larger specimens. The new comers to the zoo are both female adults and they weigh about 3.0 kg. Females tend to be wider and more rounded than males. In addition to this, the males have a tail that is much larger than that of the female and a concave plastron while the plastron of a female is completely flat. Another difference between the sexes is that the posterior claws of females are markedly longer than male hind claws, and more curved - the belief is that this is to facilitate nest building.
As regards the distribution the species has a huge range in Asia and is found from Nepal to Malaysia. Indotestudo elongata is primarily found in damp forest though it can be found in dry areas as well. It is a crepuscular tortoise, becoming active in the twilight hours before dawn or after sunset. Its large eyes are well adapted to low light levels.
Indotestudo elongata is omnivorous and their diet consisting of fruits, leafy greens, worms, slugs and carrion if available.
As regards the reproduction the mating behaviour of male is quite interesting. The male Elongated tortoises engage in very aggressive courtship behavior which can result in injury to the female if a large enough habitat is not provided. Male aggression against other males can also be very damaging and it is suggested that only one male be housed in an enclosure. In courtship, the male engages in ramming behavior as well as vigorous biting about the head, neck and front legs of the female. The male loudly vocalizes during mating, emitting a harsh, raspy sound while exhaling.
A female Elongated tortoise preparing to nest becomes restless, often attempting to escape the enclosure. While constantly striding about the habitat, she will stop and sniff the earth from time to time as she selects a spot. Generally, the spot chosen is damp and free of vegetation. Once she has found a suitable spot, she digs a flask shaped nest 15 - 20 centimeters deep with her back legs. If the soil is too hard and dry, she will wet the spot by emptying her bladder. She then proceeds to lay a clutch of 2-4 eggs in the excavated nest, replaces the soil with her back legs and flattens the spot with her plastron. Elongated tortoises typically lay 3 clutches a season in captivity.
The eggs of the Elongated tortoise are huge compared to most other species measuring 50 X 40 mm, are hard-shelled and weigh 42 - 46 grams. There is a strong indication of diapause in this species with clutches incubated 28 degrees C taking from 130 - 190 days to hatch. Increasing the temperature frequently results in doubled vertebral scutes. The newly hatched young are 50 - 55 mm SCL and weigh 30 - 35 grams.
As regards the status in wild the e longated tortoise is commonly found in the Asian food markets and as a result of this the species are under dire pressures in its entire range. It is the most common tortoise shipped to the Chinese food markets from Vietnam.
The species has been placed on CITES Appendix II, which regulates the legal international trade. Sadly, the enforcement of this law does not appear to be slowing the trade in this species as Elongated tortoises are still openly offered for sale in Chinese food markets.
In this case the field staffs of project tiger seized two female tortoises from two persons who are carrying these animals. They were caught red handed arrested and cases were booked against them and produced before the magistrate. In India the claws of the tortoise are clipped and sold by the quacks as medicine for various ailments. This is perhaps the greatest threat to the elongated tortoise in India. Now both the tortoise is kept in quarantine in the zoo and they are observed and necessary medical checkup is being done. They would enrich the species diversity of the zoo. They were brought to the zoo on 8 th October 2006.
