Q. Which of the following operations/programmes of Wildlife Crime Control Bureau has been awarded with the Certificate of Commendation by CITES?
Answer:
Operation Save Kurma
Notes: Operation Turtshield, launched by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and West Bengal Forest Department, targets the smuggling of protected turtle species in India. The Soft Shell Turtle is classified as threatened by the IUCN, while the Indian Flapshell Turtle is "Least Concern" and the Indian Peacock Softshell Turtle is "Vulnerable." The latter is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act and Appendix I of CITES. Operation Save Kurma addresses illegal trade in live turtles and has received a Certificate of Commendation from CITES for its enforcement efforts. Operation Thunderbird, coordinated by WCCB, is part of INTERPOL's multi-national wildlife enforcement initiative. Operation Soft Gold focused on illegal trade of Tibetan antelope (Shahtoosh) from October 2018 to March 2019.