Monday, September 19, 2005

Family dispute


Family dispute
Originally uploaded by Pandiyan.

There is big debate among the experts on whether this tortoise should be considered as a separate species (Indotestudo travancorica) or as part of the Forsten Tortoise (Indotestudo forstenii)

The opinion is divided and what is the big deal you might ask. If you combine them, beacuse of the spread and numbers they may get reclassified and possibly lose the status of endangered and become merely threatened and hence some protection. Of course, visually both these types have a lot differences but I am no expert to take sides.

Any way, the common name is Travancore Tortoise and it is usually found in the southern India. Travancore in a place in Kerala. He is largely a herbivore but is not averse to some tasty slugs and worms. Does not like the sunlight so much. This fellow ran away as soon as Arun put him down to the corner where it was darkest.

Chinese have a lot fascination for tortoises and chinese myths, chinese beliefs (e.g. feng shui) involve tortoises.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Pandiayan,
You have some interesing pictures/info on indian wildlife.
I have been an wildlife enthusiast myself but a lazy one. Other than read about animals & support some zoo's here in NY via memberships i have never done anything for an animal good or bad.

Some times i feel pretty bad that we are killing our own environment so easily..

Is there anything we can do about any of this.

Is there a way to start a specialized ZOO's in india. Like one just for Turtles. Can an individual start a Zoo??

If you are interested, i would like to throw around some ideas.

Please note that i am neither rich nor do i have any resources to do any of the things i think are possible. but i just love animals & feel bad that we just care the least about them.

You can get in touch with me @ pavkb @ yahoo.com

Pavan

pandiyan said...

Pavan,

Thanks for visiting and leaving your thoughts.

I am in position similar to yours. I also can't say I have done anything significant for wildlife. As I too don't have much time or money in my hands.

I encourage my kids and educate them. I am happy both share the interests along with my wife and me. They are volunteers in a local crocodile park and do some work there. They associate themselves with various activities camps, visits etc.

We visit places and take photographs which I put out in the Internet for people to see. You check out some of them in m Flickr Site.

In Chennai where I live there is a small group of turtle enthusiasts do a Turtle Walk in winter months patrolling the coast and help Olive Ridley eggs hatch safely.

We also are members of Naturequest a forum in Chennai where we have monthly programs of wildlife related lectures, films and field trips.

If our kids progress further in this line they may do something significant and we would have done our part.

Thanks for writing. This is a hurried reply. You can contact me at pandiyanvatyahoocom. (Replace at and add a period before com.

Regards,


Pandiyan

kundalini said...

i really like your blog. am waiting for my son to be old enough to visit (he is only 16 months old. i guess i'll have to wait a while :)).

what a beautiful passion.