The elongated tortoise inhabits the forest and shrublands of the Southeast Asian and Indian Subcontinent in Nepal. These tortoises feed on a variety of plants but also snails and eggs. Due to the mass harvesting and the incorrect belief that a tortoise’s shell serves as an aphrodisiac, this species is under a great threat and is considered critically endangered. Although in some parts of the world turtles are sought out for their meat or for medicinal purposes, there is a village in Thailand where these tortoises have habitually coexisted with the villagers for more than 200 years where no harm comes to them.
Locality: Bangladesh; Bhutan; Cambodia; India; Lao People’s Democratic Republic; Malaysia; Myanmar; Nepal; Thailand; Viet Nam
Genus: Indotestudo
Species: elongata
Status: Cites 2
IUCN Status: Critically Endangered (CR)
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