Behler Turtle Conservation Award
Recently, Shailendra Singh, an Indian biologist has been awarded the Behler Turtle Conservation Award for saving 3 ‘critically endangered’ turtle conservation species from the brink of extinction.
The three ‘critically endangered’ turtle species include the Red-crowned roofed turtle (Batagur Kachuga), the Northern River Terrapin Turtle (Batagur Baska) and the Black Softshell Turtle (Nilssonia Nigricans).
The Behler Turtle Conservation Award, established in the year 2006. This is a major annual international award honoring excellence in turtle and freshwater turtle conservation and biology, and leadership in the Chelonian conservation and biology community. It is also called the “Nobel Prize” for Turtle Conservation.
There are 29 species of Turtle and Tortoise are found in India.
Difference between Turtle and Tortoise:
- The back armor of the Tortoises is more rounded and domed in shape, while that of the ‘turtle’ is thinner and shinier. Turtle shells are more streamlined to aid in swimming.
- Tortoises spend most of their time on land, and turtles are more adapted to life in the water.
About Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA):
The Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) was formed in 2001 in collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) for sustainable captive management of freshwater turtles and tortoises. The TSA was initially designated a task force of the IUCN’s Turtle and Tortoises Expert Group.
Source – The Hindu
