Imphal, Sept. 6 -- Tribal villagers in Manipur's Tamenglong district, which borders Assam and Nagaland to the north, recently rescued two endangered Asian giant tortoises, one weighing about 16 kilograms and the other around 5 kilograms.

The District Forest Officer (DFO) of Tamenglong, Kharibam Hitler Singh, along with Range Forest Officer (RFO) Joel Gangmei and staff of the Tamenglong Forest Division, received the rescued tortoises from villagers of Vanchengphai and Tongtao.

The rescue and discovery of the two Asian giant tortoises (Manouria emys phayrei), a critically endangered species native to Northeast India, including Manipur, has strengthened the government's conservation efforts in the state.

Manipur Forest officials are urgin...