The Indian star tortoise looks like the Burmese star tortoise, but unlike its cousin the Indian star tortoise is not endangered in the wild.
Captive bred Indian star tortoise (Geochelone elegans), offered for sale at a Toronto Reptile Expo.
Indian star tortoises are bred in captivity for the pet trade and if you feel you must have a star tortoise the Indian star tortoise is the right choice, not the endangered Burmese star tortoise.
Indian star tortoises are herbivorous and should be fed lots of grasses with some other greens including mulberry leaves, grape leaves, dandelions, hibiscus leaves and flowers. Like most tortoises, Indian star tortoises also eat vegetables including opuntia cactus pads, squash, zucchini, carrots ans sweet potatoes.
Indian star tortoises can become good pets who show some interaction with humans particularly when they are being fed, but they require special care as they are somewhat delicate and prone to respiratory illnesses. An Indian star tortoise definitely should not be the first reptile one tries to keep as a pet. Even though captive bread Indian star tortoises can be somewhat expensive, over a thousand dollars for one, that alone should discourage people from getting one until they learn how to properly take care of a tortoise.
Further Readings:
ADW: Geochelone elegans: INFORMATION.
Indian Star Tortoise (Geochelone elegans).
Indian Star Tortoise Care Sheet.
Care Sheet – Star Tortoise.
Star Tortoises – Geochelone elegans.
Indian Star tortoises.