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Home HERMANN’S TORTOISE THREATS Direct destruction of individuals Destruction of populations by fires
TORTOISE WHO ARE YOU?History and originsDistributionMorphologyHabitatsLifestyleA PROTECTED SPECIESProtection status, rules and regulationsTrade and detentionTHREATSHabitat destruction and degradationDirect destruction of individualsTaking in the wild, captivity and releasing captive-bred individualsCONSERVATIONConservation effortsStatus and trends of populations

Destruction of populations by fires

 

The impact of forest fires on tortoise populations is very important, particularly because this is a frequent disturbance. Mortality rates observed after a fire are very high (between 60 and 85% of the total population).

Populations are very slow to rebuild, and the effects of fire can last for up to 30 years. The recurrence of fires within thirty years generally signals the disappearance of the species.

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It is therefore more than ever to respect the safety instructions for the fight against forest fires in the summer.