Answer: Nagaland
Notes: The critically endangered Asian Giant Tortoise has been reintroduced into Zeliang Community Reserve in Peren district, Nagaland. The initiative was led by the Nagaland Forest Department and the India Turtle Conservation Programme (ITCP). These tortoises were born in 2019 under a conservation project that began in 2018 with rescued pet tortoises. The species, once common in Nagaland, had nearly vanished over a decade ago. Also known as “small elephants of the forest,” they aid in seed dispersal, forest regeneration, and cleaning the forest floor. A habitat suitability study identified Zeliang Reserve as ideal for reintroduction.
