VU

Indotestudo travancorica

Unknown

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Travancore tortoise faces severe pressure from habitat destruction as Western Ghats forests are cleared for agriculture, plantations, and human settlements. Collection for the illegal pet trade and traditional medicine has significantly reduced wild populations, while road mortality increasingly affects remaining individuals as infrastructure development fragments their forest habitat.

Threat summary

Habitat

This species inhabits the dense tropical forests of the Western Ghats in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, India, preferring areas with thick leaf litter and fallen logs. They are typically found in both primary and secondary forest habitats at elevations ranging from lowlands to mid-elevation hills.

Conservation measures underway

Legislation

Other threatened species in TESTUDINIDAE

Indian Star TortoiseVU

Indian Star Tortoise

Geochelone elegans

Declining
VU

Chelonoidis vandenburghi

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Gopherus polyphemusCR

Gopherus polyphemus

Declining
Eastern Santa Cruz Giant TortoiseCR

Eastern Santa Cruz Giant Tortoise

Chelonoidis donfaustoi

Increasing

Frequently asked questions

Why is Indotestudo travancorica classified as Vulnerable?
Indotestudo travancorica is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. The Travancore tortoise faces severe pressure from habitat destruction as Western Ghats forests are cleared for agriculture, plantations, and human settlements. Collection for the illegal pet trade and traditional medicine has significantly reduced wild populations, while road mortality increasingly affects remaining individuals as infrastructure development fragments their forest habitat.
Where does Indotestudo travancorica live?
Indotestudo travancorica occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Indotestudo travancorica?
The main threats to Indotestudo travancorica are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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