Golden Turtle

Rare Golden Turtle In Nepal

Did really find a rare golden tortoise in Nepal?

Nepal is famous for its exploration and study of diverse and rare wildlife. Researchers have shown that there are 17 species of tortoises in Nepal. One of the species is still being studied. A study is underway to determine its existence. Out of 16/17 species in Nepal, 15 species are insensitive and rare conditions. Among the four endangered species are the three-striped tortoise, the red-headed tortoise, the long tortoise, and the thin-headed soft-tortoise.

Stay tuned until the end of this post if you want to know more about it...

Where in Nepal was the golden tortoise found?

For the last several days, Nepal's golden tortoise has been discussed in various countries of the world. This is the first-ever in Nepal that a golden tortoise has been found. This is the 5th case of this golden species of tortoise in the world. This golden tortoise was first seen on the morning of April 14, 2018, in a place called Khoyar in Janakpur Sub-metropolitan Municipality of Province-2 of Nepal. Even though it was found two years ago, it took two years to conduct a detailed global study and confirm it. More than two years later, a report on the discovery of a rare tortoise has been internationalized, sparking controversy in the world of world science and wildlife research. The scientific name of this tortoise is "Lisaima Petata Anderson". The newly discovered tortoise is completely golden in color. As it is golden, such a tortoise looks very attractive. This species of tortoise is also known as 'Matihara tortoise', 'Butterfly tortoise' in Nepal, and especially in the Terai as 'Sevei'. Hence its Nepali name is Golden Turtle.

How did this golden tortoise come to be discovered?

The tortoise was rescued on the initiative of Mithila Wildlife Trust conservationist Mr.Chandradeep Sada. Immediately after the rescue, the tortoise was released into the wild. While studying the snake species, a team including researchers Mr. Kamal Devkota and Mr.Devnarayan Mandal found the tortoise. After studying the tortoise, expert Mr.Kamal Devkota wrote a joint study report with Mr.Devnarayan Mandal and American Professor Henrik Kesar. He sent it to the German journal Herpetology Notes, which publishes scientific research reports on reptiles and amphibians.

A study report was published on August 6, 2020, confirming that the golden tortoise was recorded for the first ever in Nepal. The study's 'cross-check' and 'peer review' study was published by Herpetology Notes with more information from zoologists. The report, which Mr.Devkota sent only mentioning 'first in Nepal', and was added as '5th fact of the world' and it facilitated internationalization. It gained recognition as soon as it was published in this journal. Also, after the information about this was published in the Global Voice of the Netherlands, which was published in many languages ​​of the world, the golden tortoise of Nepal became internationalized. Thus, various media in Europe, America, and Asia published it with priority.

Is the golden tortoise is a different species of the tortoise?

 

The tortoise of this species is usually green in color. Experts say that genetic mutations can cause any animal to change color. Due to this, the elements that give color to different parts of the body like skin, eyes, hair, scalp, etc. are changed and it can change to other colors besides natural. This is called 'albino' or 'leucism' in the language of scientists. In this case, the body part may be white, pale yellow. Also, scars can be seen on the body. Turtles found in Nepal are golden due to their high yellow color. This golden chance in turtles is called 'chromatic leucism'.

How safe is the golden tortoise nowadays?

People also believe that tortoise meat can be used to eradicate various diseases. It is believed that eating the meat and eggs of this tortoise improves health and prolongs life. as well Turtles are also being sought for decoration in international museums and palaces. Therefore, with the international commercialization of this tortoise, the danger of illegal smuggling is increasing. Experts say if they will not be protected these turtles will disappear.

What is the significance of the golden tortoise in Nepali society?

From the point of view of religious values and beliefs, this golden tortoise has a lot of meaning in different countries including Nepal. In Hinduism, Lord Vishnu took the structure of a tortoise to save the universe from destruction, and according to Hindu mythology, the lower part of the tortoise is considered to be the earth and the upper part of the sky.

What is the role of this golden tortoise in the environment?

According to various reports from researchers, tortoise species also help maintain the organism's life cycle balance in the environment, and tortoises have played a role in preventing environmental pollution by eating insects and dead animals. 

The above pieces of information are obtained from trusted various source reviews:  Herpetology Notes Journal Germany, Global Voice Netherlands, Record Nepal, Daily Mail UK, Times Now News USA, & more...
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