Central Asian Tortoise \ Orto Asia Tortoise / Steppe, or Afghan, Tortoise
Central Asian Tortoise
Status: VU Blab (ii, iii, v); Cl. A representative of a monotypic genus, decreasing in number, listed in IUCN RLTS (VU A2d) [27] and in Appendix II of CITES [4 and others]; in Kyrgyzstan, it is endangered due to habitat change and capture.
Distribution overall and in the country. From Northern and Eastern Iran to Northwestern India and Northwestern China, widespread in Central Asia, in Kazakhstan up to the Emba River and the Tarbagatai Range [1, 4, 6, 9, 15, 25]. In Kyrgyzstan - in the Pre-Fergana regions, in the western Talas and Chui valleys [1, 6, 19, 20, 25]; presence in Western Pre-Issyk-Kul (according to oral reports) is unreliable.
Habitat. In Kyrgyzstan, it inhabits desert and semi-desert landscapes, grass-covered semi-deserts, sometimes low-herb steppes in valleys and agricultural lands (fields, gardens); found in foothills up to an altitude of 1300 m above sea level [20, 25].
Population. Varies in different parts of its range and in different locations. The highest population density is noted in the area of Maili-Sai [20] - 46 individuals were recorded on a 10 km transect 10 m wide. In the lower part of the Naryn River canyon and in the gravelly semi-desert foothills of the Turkestan Range, fewer than 10 individuals were encountered per day on similar routes [19]. In the Chui Valley, the population has sharply decreased to a critical level [20].
Life Cycle (Life Stages). In the Chui Valley, it emerges from hibernation in March; mating (in Kyrgyzstan) occurs in April, egg-laying takes place in burrows in May-June [20, 25]. Young tortoises emerge from the laid eggs after three months and remain for wintering [20, 25]; very rarely is summer hibernation interrupted (during the rainy season) [19]. They reach sexual maturity in the 12th-16th year of life [20] (according to other data [1, 4] - in the 10th year, at a body length of 10-11 cm [9], while males - at 5-6 years [15]); females usually lay two eggs (sometimes up to six [3, 4, 15] or more, in several batches [9]), weighing up to 30 g, covered with a hard shell.
Limiting Factors. Anthropogenic impact: alteration (due to long-term overgrazing) and destruction of habitats, plowing of virgin lands, mass capture for export, including poaching [9]. In the conditions of Kyrgyzstan, the main factor is direct persecution for commercial export from the territory of the republic [20].
Breeding (keeping in captivity). The Central Asian tortoise is a popular inhabitant of amateur terrariums [3, 15, 18], but breeds poorly in captivity. Breeding is not conducted in Kyrgyzstan.
Existing Conservation Measures. Currently, neither the species nor its habitats are protected in Kyrgyzstan; until recently, export was not controlled (in 2005, illegal export of about 1,000 tortoises was intercepted [20]).
Recommended Conservation Measures. Strengthening administrative and criminal liability for capture and export. In some habitats - regulating the intensity of livestock grazing in the spring period.
Steppe, or Afghan, Tortoise
Steppe, or Afghan, Tortoise
Agrionemys horsfieldi (Gray, 1844)
Status: Vulnerable (category VU Blab (ii, iii, v); C1), representative of a monotypic genus with South-Turanian area, in Kyrgyzstan populations of its species are endangered. The species is listed in IUCN RLTS (category VU A2d) and in Appendix II of CITES. It populates low-herb steppes and semi-deserts in the piedmont zone in Talas and Tchu Valleys (probably up to the eastern part of Issyk-Kul Hollow) and in the southern part of the country, usually up to 1,300 m above sea level. Tortoises finish hibernation in March, the period of rut and egg-laying depends on the elevation (May - June); incubation is 3 months. It is very rare in Tchu Valley and more abundant in some southern areas (i.e., 46 specimens per a transect 10 km x 10 m, in the vicinities of Maili-Sai town). The number is decreasing owing to ploughing-up and unordered collection for export purposes. The species is difficult to breed (reproductive age is 12-16 years, females usually lay 2 eggs); it is not bred in Kyrgyzstan. At present, the Steppe Tortoise is out of special protection in the country, which is urgently necessary to address, e.g., only one smuggled lot of tortoises seized by customs in 2005 numbered about 1,000 specimens. Toughening of criminal liability for collection/trade and awareness-building work among people (about the undesirability of keeping at home) are recommended to protect this species.
