Emerging from extinction: new conservation strategies for the Mediterranean tortoise

MITECO

The initiative seeks to prevent the disappearance of the last population of natural origin of Mediterranean tortoise in the entire Iberian Peninsula, through in-situ and ex-situ intervention measures.

The Associació Amics de la Tortuga de l’Albera created the Turtle Reproduction Centre in order to improve the conservation status of the last population of Mediterranean tortoise of natural origin in the entire Iberian Peninsula, currently in danger of extinction.

In the center, captive breeding is carried out to carry out population reinforcements, in order to improve the conservation status of the population in the Albera mountain range. Unfortunately, the success of these reinforcements has been affected by the high pressure of predatory species.

For this reason, and based on the results of a pilot test, it is proposed to release specimens of a size that ensures their survival, so an improvement of the rearing facilities is necessary. It is also proposed to carry out a census with a canine unit in one of the areas with the highest population density, to determine its current state of conservation and evaluate the need for in-situ and ex-situ intervention.

Finally, a manual of good management practices will be published, which will serve to raise awareness among owners of traditional practices compatible with the conservation of the species and to consolidate the Albera Stewardship Network.

The specific objectives of the project are:

Improve the effectiveness of population reinforcements by ensuring a survival of 90% of the released specimens.
To know the current state of one of the population centers of Mediterranean tortoise with the highest density thanks to a specialized canine unit.
To publish and disseminate a manual of good practices for the management of the Mediterranean tortoise habitat based on experimental management.