From a distance, the pond at the centre of Visveswaraya Tower Park in Anna Nagar is a picture of neglect with empty plastic bottles, wrappers and food wastes scattered around.
Take a closer look, and you might spot a variety of fishes, insects and water plants.
A one-foot-long Indian tortoise, around 30 years old, is the star attraction of the pond.
“The tortoise ventures out only during the afternoons when it is silent and human intervention is minimal. Also, the water in the pond gets hot so the turtle comes out for fresh air,” said a Corporation official.
The park has two ponds connected by a small channel to drain excess water from the big to the small pond. The big pond, according to Corporation officials, is around 20-feet deep and is spread over a few acres of land, while the small pond is around 10-feet deep. Currently, the park has three Indian tortoises and the big pond is the home for all three.
“I have seen them (tortoises) a couple of times during the day but one have to wait patiently to catch a glimpse of them,” said S. Kumar, a resident of Anna Nagar.
Many visitors are not as lucky as Kumar as they visit the park mostly in the morning and evening when all the three tortoises hide themselves either in the thick bushes around the pond or dive deep in. Being a reclusive animal, the tortoises rarely come in contact with humans. However, with plenty of foliage at the park , the tortoise has grown in size over the years. Most tortoises are herbivores feeding on grass, weeds, leafy greens and fruits. Some tortoises also consume small insects and worms.
“The longevity of the species (tortoises) depends on the availability of food in abundance. Its habitat is mostly in dry areas and scrub forest in the country and neighbouring Sri Lanka,” said a forest official.
Officials said the oldest tortoise might have landed due to flooding of the neighbourhood many years ago. “We do not provide any food to the species but ensure its safety by keeping an eye on them with the help of special lights near the pond,” said an official.
