The Indian flapshell turtle is a relatively small species of turtle that is found in freshwater habitats across the country, including rivers, reservoirs, wetlands, and agricultural fields.
These turtles can be considered the most heavily exploited species of softshell turtles in India. They are illegally traded in high volumes, primarily for the consumption of their meat, eggs, and calipee (yellow jelly-like substance found immediately inside the lower shell, considered a delicacy).
Cited as a keystone species, these turtles play a major role in the environment as scavengers, keeping water bodies clean by feeding on dead organisms. They are also essential in transferring nutrients from aquatic to terrestrial ecosystems and maintaining food webs.
This film is developed by the Counter Wildlife Trafficking team of WCS-India and Dusty Foot Productions.
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