Turtles as pets
Sobhan Parida
(Querist) 07 September 2012
This query is : Resolved
I am an animal enthusiast and have been offered Red Eared Slider turtles by a pet shop to adopt as pet. However, I am quite unsure if I am allowed to have those turtles as pets, although Indian Wildlife Protection Act 1972 is doesn't mention the species under the restricted list. Please guide me in this regard...
sanjeev murthy desai
(Expert) 07 September 2012
In my view turtles are pets and even such species does not mentioned in the restricted list. Hence just try to secure consent endorsement from the jurisdictional authority.
ajay sethi
(Expert) 07 September 2012
dont keep turtles as pets . the sale of turtles less than 4 inches has been banned in the United States since 1975? This is because turtles pose a high risk of spreading disease, especially to children. The ban by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has prevented an estimated 100,000 cases of salmonellosis annually in children
Do not have a turtle in any household that includes children under 5, the elderly, or people who have lowered natural resistance to disease due to pregnancy, cancer, chemotherapy, organ transplants, diabetes, liver problems or other diseases. A family expecting a child should remove any pet reptile or amphibian from the home before the infant arrives.
in.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid...
ajay sethi
(Expert) 07 September 2012
Illegal turtle trade unabated in Ahmedabad
TNN Aug 17, 2012, 02.56AM IST
Tags:Sahu superintendent|Kankaria zoo|Illegal turtle tradeAHMEDABAD: The illegal trade of turtles in markets of Ahmedabad continues to mushroom unabated. Last year, the trend was to bring home the Red-eared slider of Singapore, this year it is the native Indian roofed turtle or Pangshura tecta.
The turtle, endemic to the Ganges, is terrestrial and lives in fresh water. The reptile goes on to live for 200 years, if reared in its natural habitat, does not survive for more than 20 days after it's bought from pet shops in the city. "The Indian roofed turtle may not be critically endangered yet, but thousands are being imported and sold in the city," says an animal activist. Not just that, sellers keep several hundreds of these hatchlings together, in unhygienic tanks, where they slowly lose all vitality.This species of turtle has a beautiful green-orange shell with an elevated, sharp and pointed back. It feeds on insects and fish and thrives in the mud. However, people here are recommended to give them readymade food from the markets. They are also kept in water bowls and tubs, where they are constantly in the water, without any sunshine.
"As a result, the turtles lose their vision, the first symptom of impending sickness," adds the expert.
Found in many pet shops in the city, this breed sells for as little as Rs 300, and is a hit with Feng Shui believers. This philosophy claims turtles are lucky and traders cash in on the belief that has caught up with the public here. For socialites, keeping reptiles has become something of the latest hobby.
"Buying or keeping turtles at home is illegal, and people doing so can be arrested immediately," says Jagdish Prasad, chief conservator of forests, Ahmedabad.
Dr R K Sahu, superintendent, Kankaria Zoo, says: "Buying, selling and keeping any animals that fall under the Wildlife Protection Act is completely illegal as well as punishable. Turtles fall under this Act."
R.K Nanda
(Expert) 07 September 2012
U cannot keep them as pets as it is illegal.
Sudhir Kumar, Advocate
(Expert) 07 September 2012
It is non-cognizable and bailable offence and sentence is also not very heavy.
