Star-studded creature spotted by locals in Nepal for the first time. Take a look
In a forest in southern Nepal, a creature with a “star-like” exterior has made a surprise appearance for the very first time.
Bijay Raj Shrestha, a researcher with the Dolphin Conservation Center in Kailali, Nepal, was with a group of locals in a community forest on Aug. 19 when they noticed a dark creature peaking out from the green landscape, according to a study published Oct. 6 in the peer-reviewed journal Oryx.
A closer look revealed a tortoise with head and limbs sticking out from an elaborately decorated shell, according to the study.
It was an Indian star tortoise, easily recognizable from its “star-like” pattern.
“The north-western Indian star tortoise is widely distributed in north-western India, including Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan and with a single record from Uttar Pradesh, and in Pakistan,” researchers said. “Despite its broad distribution in the western part of the Indian sub-continent, there has previously been no verified record of the species in Nepal.”
Locals told researchers this tortoise wasn’t the first one to cross their path, suggesting the species has moved into the region.
Why the tortoise is appearing here is another question, though.
The Indian star tortoise is considered “vulnerable” and is a commodity in the illegal collection and wildlife smuggling trade, according to the study.
The Nepal-India border is a heavily used route for wildlife smugglers, researchers said, and with this population of at-risk tortoises so close in proximity, they may be a target.
There is also the chance that the tortoises were brought into Nepal through the illegal trade in the first place, rather than expanding their natural range on their own, according to the study.
“Regardless, the species’ presence in western Nepal adds to the country’s herpetofaunal diversity and warrants immediate conservation attention,” researchers said.
Indian star tortoises are one of the smallest land tortoises, typically reaching about a foot in length, and are considered gentle in nature, according to the Australia Zoo.
They are typically found in more arid scrublands or coconut plantations, the zoo said, and feast on grass, flowers, berries and fruit.
The tortoise was found in the Kailali District in southwestern Nepal, just across the northern border of India.
The research team includes Shrestha, Asmit Subba, Laxmi Prasad Upadhayaya, Dhirendra Bahadur Chand and Laxman Khanal.
This story was originally published October 7, 2025 at 2:20 PM with the headline "Star-studded creature spotted by locals in Nepal for the first time. Take a look."
