The Burmese star tortoise (''Geochelone platynota'') is a

critically endangered An IUCN Red List critically endangered (CR or sometimes CE) species is one that has been categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. As of December 2023, of t ...

tortoise species, native to the dry, deciduous forests of

Myanmar Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and has ...

(Burma).

Description

The Burmese star tortoise has radiating star-shaped patterns on its strongly domed carapace. It has bumps on its shell that look like stars. This tortoise can easily be distinguished from the more common

Indian star tortoise The Indian star tortoise (''Geochelone elegans'') is a threatened tortoise species native to India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka where it inhabits dry areas and scrub forest. It has been listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 2016, as the pop ...

by comparing the plastrons of the two species.

Captive breeding

The breeding of the Burmese star tortoise is difficult, and its first successful breeding in captivity was in

Taipei Zoo The Taipei Zoo, sometimes referred to as the Muzha Zoo, is a public zoological garden in Wenshan District, Taipei, Taiwan. It is the most famous zoological garden in Taiwan and a leader in conservation, research and education, and recreation. ...

, Taiwan, where a few Burmese star tortoises were hatched in 2003.

Yadanabon Zoological Gardens The Yadanabon Zoological Gardens ( ) is a zoo in Mandalay, Myanmar. The zoo has nearly 300 animals, including tigers, leopards and elephants, and plays a major part in the conservation program for the highly threatened Burmese roofed turtle (''B ...

is also currently engaged in a captive-breeding program to attempt to increase the population of this tortoise. Starting with 200 tortoises in 2004, by October 2017, there were 14,000 tortoises in breeding programs and 1000 have been reintroduced into the wild. On 31 July 2021,

Richard Branson Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson (born 18 July 1950) is an English business magnate who co-founded the Virgin Group in 1970, and controlled 5 companies remaining of once more than 400. Branson expressed his desire to become an entrepreneu ...

announced two baby Burmese star tortoises were born on his private island, Necker Island, as part of his ongoing conservation work for the species.

References

External links

Columbia Science ReviewAssessing reintroduction sites for Burmese star tortoisesPopulation status and conservation of the Critically Endangered Burmese Star Tortoise ''Geochelone platynota'' in central Myanmar

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
{{Taxonbar , from=Q852181 Geochelone Turtles of Asia Endemic fauna of Myanmar Reptiles of Myanmar Critically endangered fauna of Asia Species that are or were threatened by the pet trade Species that are or were threatened by use as food Reptiles described in 1863 Taxa named by Edward Blyth Reptiles as pets