Preliminary Assessment of the Population Status and Distribution of Travancore Tortoise (Indotestudo travancorica) in the Western Ghats of India
Varadaraju *
Southern Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, 130, Santhome High Road, Chennai -600028, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The present study was undertaken to assess the population status and distribution of the Travancore tortoise, Indotestudo travancorica in the Western Ghats of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu for a period of three years from April, 2022 to March, 2025. The survey was carried out covering wild life sanctuaries, tiger reserves, national parks and protected forests. During the survey we encountered the Travancore tortoise in all the three states, however, the frequency of sightings was very low, as the species is under severe threat. This evidence indicates a drastic decline in the population of the species in the wild. It is observed that the season also plays a major role in the frequency of sightings of the species in the wild. The monsoon season is the ideal season for sightings of the species in the wild as compared to other seasons.
Keywords: Conservation status, distribution, endemism, Travancore tortoise, western ghats