IMPHAL, MANIPUR – In a significant boost to wildlife conservation efforts, the Manipur Zoological Garden, in collaboration with the India Turtle Conservation Program (ITCP), has successfully hatched 28 Asian giant tortoise hatchlings through artificial incubation. This marks the first successful experiment of its kind for this critically endangered species in mainland Asia.
This achievement has initiated a dedicated conservation breeding program to increase the species’ population and eventually reintroduce them into the wild. The Asian giant tortoise (Manouria emys phayrei) is the largest tortoise in mainland Asia and is native to five northeastern states of India: Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Nagaland.
A Coordinated Effort for a Rare Reptile
The successful incubation is the result of a coordinated effort that included a training program for 25 zookeepers and frontline forest staff on the conservation and management of tortoises. The zoo’s director, Laishram Biramangol Singh, stated that dedicated facilities will be developed for breeding and releasing the species in a phased manner.
The ITCP will also conduct habitat assessments to understand the species’ native distribution and population status in Manipur. This effort aims to address the specific conservation requirements of this threatened tortoise, which faces risks from hunting and habitat loss.