Reptiles
Burmese Star Tortoise
Geochelone platynota
In a fenced sanctuary in central Myanmar, a young Burmese star tortoise grazes on dry grass, its starburst shell glowing in the sun, one of the first of its kind released back into the wild.
Overview
The Burmese star tortoise, Geochelone platynota, is a Critically Endangered tortoise of dry forest, scrub, and grassland in central Myanmar. Its starburst shell, collapse in the wild, and recovery through captive breeding make it one of the best-known tortoise conservation stories in Asia.
A species brought back from the brink
From a handful of survivors, breeding centres in Myanmar have raised thousands of tortoises, and releases into guarded sanctuaries are giving the species a chance to return.
Status
Critically Endangered, with an increasing population thanks to captive breeding.
Burmese Star Tortoise: common questions
Why is the Burmese star tortoise Critically Endangered?
It was collected in huge numbers for the pet trade and for food, and had almost vanished from the wild by the early twenty-first century.
How is it being saved?
Captive-breeding centres in Myanmar have raised thousands of tortoises from a handful of survivors, and young ones are released into protected sanctuaries.
How is it different from the Indian star tortoise?
The Burmese star tortoise has a taller, more domed shell with a bolder radiating pattern, and lives in Myanmar rather than India and Sri Lanka.
Where does the Burmese star tortoise live?
It lives in dry forest, scrub, and grassland in central Myanmar.