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Home HERMANN’S TORTOISE THREATS Taking in the wild, captivity and releasing captive-bred individuals
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

Taking in the wild, captivity and releasing captive-bred individuals

Despite the taking of individuals being strictly prohibited by current legislation, it is still a frequent occurrence, whether it be occasional individuals or for commercial purposes.

It usually affects adults; this has a direct effect on the demographic potential of this long-lived species with a late sexual maturity. This threat has become all the greater since the commercialisation of tortoises born and bred in captivity was authorised.

 

The release of captive tortoises in the wild, whether exotic individuals (Greek tortoise or Balkan Hermann’s tortoises) or not (Western Hermann tortoises), endangers wild populations of turtles in transmitting disease.

It has been estimated that the number of captive Hermann’s tortoises in France is greater than the number of wild animals in their natural environment. Captive-bred tortoises are often in contact with and can hybridise with imported exotic species and sub-species (e.g. Greek or Balkan tortoises).

Several tortoise owners reintroduce those animals into the wild. However, the deliberate release of individuals of unknown origin can result in health and genetic problems, for example

the transmission of pathogens which may introduce diseases into the wild populations. The introduction of foreign genes into wild populations modifies the genetic structure of native populations and may produce poor adaptation to local conditions.

This is why it is strongly recommended not to release captive-bred individuals into the wild.

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The image of the Hermann’s tortoise is one of a very nice animal whose presence is considered accidental in nature. The belief that captivity protects dangers is false. These are indeed wild populations and their environments it is necessary to preserve.

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Captive breeding often leads to difficulties related to the lack of space due to the multiplication of individuals. As is the case here, the turtles are distorted due to nutritional deficiencies.

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