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First record of the Indian star tortoise Geochelone elegans in Nepal

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 October 2025

Asmit Subba Open the ORCID record for Asmit Subba [Opens in a new window] ,
Bijay Raj Shrestha ,
Laxmi Prasad Upadhayaya ,
Dhirendra Bahadur Chand  and
Laxman Khanal Open the ORCID record for Laxman Khanal [Opens in a new window]
Asmit Subba
Affiliation:
Central Department of Zoology, Institute of Science and Technology, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
Bijay Raj Shrestha
Affiliation:
Dolphin Conservation Center, Kailali, Nepal
Laxmi Prasad Upadhayaya
Affiliation:
Conservation Himalaya, Kathmandu, Nepal
Dhirendra Bahadur Chand
Affiliation:
Conservation Himalaya, Kathmandu, Nepal
Laxman Khanal*
Affiliation:
Central Department of Zoology, Institute of Science and Technology, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
*
(laxman.khanal@cdz.tu.edu.np)
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Abstract

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Information

Type
Conservation News
Information
Oryx , Volume 59 , Issue 5 , September 2025 , pp. 551 - 552
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence CC BY 4.0.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Fauna & Flora International

Recently, two subspecies of Indian star tortoise Geochelone elegans have been recognized: the southern Indian star tortoise Geochelone elegans elegans and the north-western Indian star tortoise Geochelone elegans actinodes. Geochelone elegans is categorized as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is in CITES Appendix I because of intense harvesting for the pet trade. The north-western Indian star tortoise is widely distributed in north-western India, including Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan and with a single record from Uttar Pradesh, and in Pakistan. Despite its broad distribution in the western part of the Indian sub-continent, there has previously been no verified record of the species in Nepal.

On 19 August 2025, author BRS and local residents reported seeing a tortoise with characteristic star-like caraace patterns in the Kailasheswor Community Forest, in Ward Number 6 of Janaki Rural Municipality, Kailali District, Nepal. The tortoise weighed c. 3 kg and the photograph indicated diagnostic features of G. elegans actinodes. It was released back into the forest with the assistance of the Dolphin Conservation Center in Bhajani, Kailali, and the Division Forest Office, Kailali. Community members reported multiple sightings in previous years, suggesting the species occurs naturally in this region. This record represents a northward extension of the known range of G. elegans actinodes, and highlights the need for targeted surveys to determine its distribution and population status in Nepal.

Given the high risk of illegal collection and trade, any newly confirmed populations require urgent conservation attention. The Nepal–India border is a major route in the international wildlife trade, and tortoises are among the species most frequently seized. Protecting any population close to the border with India will therefore require both habitat management and enforcement against collection and trafficking. Further ecological surveys and genetic analyses will be essential to confirm whether any Nepalese population is native, connected to nearby Indian populations, or the result of introductions. Regardless, the species’ presence in western Nepal adds to the country’s herpetofaunal diversity and warrants immediate conservation attention.

Indian star tortoise Geochelone elegans from the Kailasheswor Community Forest, Janaki Rural Municipality, Kailali District, Nepal. Photo: Bijay Raj Shrestha.