Tested tortoises can finally be released back to their habitat
For more than two decades, it has been illegal to release tortoises back into the wild due to genetic contamination.
AFTER more than 20 years of being illegal to release, new protocols will now allow tortoises to be freed back into the wild after genetic testing.
Glad that the changes will allow tortoises back into their natural habitat, the Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife’s (Crow) herpetologist and director, Clint Halkett-Siddall, said he welcomed the news.
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“For more than two decades, it has been illegal to release tortoises back into the wild due to genetic contamination. Fortunately, over the last few years, there has been research and genetic tests conducted on tortoises to establish which areas they come from.
“Over the last few months, Crow has been able to test 17 of our tortoises. Unfortunately, none of them come from the province therefore they cannot be released.
“The release protocol that has been drawn up is very stringent. Once the genetic tests come back and the tortoises are proven to come from the province, we have to isolate them for eight months to make sure that they are disease and parasite free.
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“Thereafter, they will be moved to the reserve where they will be released and they will be kept in a burrow for up to a year to make sure that they are coping and acclimatising to the area.
“They will then be fitted with transmitters and monitored for another year. It is a three-year programme to get them released back into the wild, but one well worth it,” said Halkett-Siddall.
The 17 tortoises that were tested at Crow have all proved to be hybrids from another province and cannot be released. Crow still has about 120 tortoises to test. Tests and sampling were sponsored.
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