Context:
Recently, Officers of the Customs Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) seized 6,850 live red-eared sliders, a species of turtle, from two male passengers who arrived at the Tiruchi international airport.
Relevance:
GS III: Environment and Ecology
Red-eared Sliders Turtle:
- Native to the southeastern USA and Mexico.
- Semi-aquatic turtles found in fresh and brackish water ecosystems.
- Primarily spends time foraging in water or basking on rocks and logs.
- Considered one of the world’s 100 worst invasive non-native species.
Appearance:
- Notable feature is the red stripes behind each ear.
- Coloration ranges from dark green to brown, with yellowish ribbons on their bodies and along the edge of their olive-green shell.
- In the wild, they have a lifespan of 20 to 50 years.
Diet:
- Red-eared sliders mainly feed on plants and small animals such as crickets and fish.
Conservation Status:
- IUCN classification: Least Concern.
- The species does not currently face significant conservation threats.
-Source: Down To Earth
