Aboriginal Tribe's Knowledge of the Endangered Freshwater Turtle Cuora amboinensis in Car Nicobar, a Remote Oceanic Island in the Bay of Bengal

Freshwater turtles are among the least studied faunas in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. Here, we report the presence of freshwater turtles (Cuora amboinensis) from Car Nicobar, a small remote island in the Nicobar archipelago comprising the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the people belonging to Nicobarese tribes (n = 233) to gather their local ecological knowledge as supportive information to obtain a better understanding of the status of turtles in Car Nicobar. Most interviewees (90%) opined that freshwater turtles are found to be rare or very rare on the Island. All the respondents (100%) expressed willingness to contribute to future conservation projects. Community-level awareness emerged as a prominent issue for future conservation using the Garrett ranking method. A stream network map was prepared using the digital elevation model to visualize streams and potential habitats of turtles. This report on the freshwater turtles is essential from an ecological perspective since information is scarce on the freshwater turtles in Car Nicobar. This study emphasizes the importance of the engagement of stakeholders in conservation projects and recommends providing adequate attention to the conservation and protection of freshwater turtle diversity in Car Nicobar.

Automated summary

Freshwater turtles in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India, have received little research attention. A study conducted on Car Nicobar Island, a remote location in the Nicobar archipelago, reports the presence of freshwater turtles and explores the local community's knowledge and attitudes towards them. Most people considered freshwater turtles to be rare on the island, but expressed willingness to contribute to conservation efforts. The study highlights the importance of stakeholder engagement and recommends conservation and protection measures for the freshwater turtle diversity in Car Nicobar.