Factors Affecting on the Occurrence of Indian Peacock Softshell Turtle Nilssonia Hurum, and People Attitudes Towards its Conservation in Nepal

Abstract

The Indian peacock softshell turtle (Nilssonia hurum) a keystone species of aquatic ecosystem, has been threatened to extinction due to over exploitation, limited conservation efforts, lack of baseline data and attention given to turtles. This study investigated the factors affecting on the occurrence of the Indian peacock softshell turtle in five wetlands of Morang district, Nepal, and also evaluated the attitudes of community members about the conservation of the species. A Visual Encounter Survey method was employed to identify its occurrence and influencing environmental and anthropogenic factors. We have recorded a total of 12 individuals of Indian peacock softshell turtles. We found the number of human presences, particularly with supplementary feeding by visitors was the major influencing factor (p < 0.034) for the sighting of this softshell species. Among 154 respondent’s 20% (n = 41) had observed this species in the study area. Respondent’s attitude towards conservation was significantly influenced by education (χ2 = 37.89, df = 1, p < 0.001) and by occupation (χ2 = 14.151, df = 3, p = 0.002). Local people (10%, n = 15) are also found to be involved in activities like hunting, keeping turtle as pet, exploitation of their eggs, also religious offerings in temple which are directly posing threats to Indian peacock softshell turtle. The species is threatened by human activities in the study area; therefore, this study recommends to regulate human activities with awareness in wetland areas and its vicinity along with long-term monitoring for conservation planning and safeguarding their potential habitats.

Keywords: conservation, Freshwater turtle, Indian peacock softshell turtle, Nilssonia hurum, Supplementary feeding