Burmese Star Tortoise
Encyclopedia
The Burmese star tortoise (Geochelone platynota) is becoming extinct in its native Myanmar
(Burma). It lives in the dry, deciduous forest, and is eaten both by the native Burmese, and is traded to the Chinese
, where it is sometimes found in the food markets. It is on CITES Appendix II, meaning a permit from the country of export is required. Reportedly, Myanmar has never granted an export permit, meaning most captive bred are originally from illegal tortoises, or imports grandfathered in prior to the CITES listing. Yadanabon Zoological Gardens
is currently engaged in a captive breeding program to increase the population of this tortoise.
This tortoise can easily be distinguished from the more common Indian star tortoise
by comparing the plastrons of the two species. It is considered critically endangered
by the IUCN. One recent expedition searched for the Burmese star for 400 hours with specially trained dogs and 5 volunteers and only found 5 tortoises.
The breeding of the Burmese star tortoise is difficult, and its first successful breeding in captivity was in Taipei Zoo, Taiwan, where a few Burmese star tortoises were hatched in 2003.
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
(Burma). It lives in the dry, deciduous forest, and is eaten both by the native Burmese, and is traded to the Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, where it is sometimes found in the food markets. It is on CITES Appendix II, meaning a permit from the country of export is required. Reportedly, Myanmar has never granted an export permit, meaning most captive bred are originally from illegal tortoises, or imports grandfathered in prior to the CITES listing. Yadanabon Zoological Gardens
Yadanabon Zoological Gardens
The Yadanabon Zoological Gardens is a zoo in Mandalay, Myanmar. The zoo has nearly 300 animals, including tigers, leopards and elephants, and houses the only potential captive breeding group of Burmese Roofed Turtles The Yadanabon Zoological Gardens is a zoo in Mandalay, Myanmar. The zoo has...
is currently engaged in a captive breeding program to increase the population of this tortoise.
This tortoise can easily be distinguished from the more common Indian star tortoise
Indian Star Tortoise
The Indian star tortoise is a species of tortoise found in dry areas and scrub forest in India and Sri Lanka. This species is quite popular in the exotic pet trade.-Anatomy and morphology:...
by comparing the plastrons of the two species. It is considered critically endangered
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
by the IUCN. One recent expedition searched for the Burmese star for 400 hours with specially trained dogs and 5 volunteers and only found 5 tortoises.
The breeding of the Burmese star tortoise is difficult, and its first successful breeding in captivity was in Taipei Zoo, Taiwan, where a few Burmese star tortoises were hatched in 2003.