GS PAPER II: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

Context: A ‘cute’ American turtle popular as a pet is threatening to invade the natural water bodies across the Northeast, home to 21 of the 29 vulnerable native Indian species of freshwater turtles and tortoises.

About red-eared turtle:

• It is a favourite of pet lovers because of its small size and color and can even be kept in a matchbox.
• It grows fast and is considered as one of the world’s worst invasive species.
• They are omnivores and require lots of aquatic plants.
• This species is native from the area around the Mississippi river and the Gulf of Mexico, they live in still and warm water bodies such as ponds, lakes, streams, and slow- running rivers.
• They pose a major threat to native turtle specials, as they grow large, produce more offspring, and are aggressive.
• They can also transfer diseases and parasites to native reptiles.
• In Australia and the European Union, it is illegal to import and keep these turtles.
• The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists red eared slider turtle as a species of 'least concern', mainly due to their large numbers in wild and stable population.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/native-indian-turtles-face-us-slider-threat-across-northeast/article34555420.ece

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