Literaturdatenbank |
Wimberger, K., Armstrong, A. J., & Downs, C. T. (2010). Welfare release of babcock’s leopard tortoise, kwazulu-natal, south africa. In P. S. Soorae (Ed.), Global Re-introduction Perspectives: 2010: Additional case-studies from around the globe (pp. 121–130). Abu Dhabi: IUCN/SSC Re-introduction Specialist Group (RSG).
Added by: Sarina Wunderlich (30 Oct 2011 14:52:45 UTC) |
Resource type: Book Article BibTeX citation key: Wimberger2010 View all bibliographic details |
Categories: General Keywords: Habitat = habitat, Schildkröten = turtles + tortoises, Stigmochelys, Stigmochelys pardalis, Südafrika = Southern Africa, Testudinidae Creators: Armstrong, Downs, Soorae, Wimberger Publisher: IUCN/SSC Re-introduction Specialist Group (RSG) (Abu Dhabi) Collection: Global Re-introduction Perspectives: 2010: Additional case-studies from around the globe |
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Abstract |
The options available for tortoises in rehabilitation centres are a life-time in captivity, euthanasia or release. However, in South Africa, there are not enough suitable tortoise sanctuaries, and rehabilitation centres are reluctant to euthanize tortoises because this is contrary to their aims. As a result, tortoises are released into the wild without reference to a documented release protocol and with no consistent post-release monitoring. We released Babcock’s leopard tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis babcocki), not internationally red-listed, as this tortoise is the most frequently admitted to a large rehabilitation centre in the KwaZulu-Natal province (KZN). Since only the subspecies S. p. babcocki can be released in KZN, various morphological indicators were used to separate it from S. p. pardalis, and from putative hybrids of the two subspecies. Even though many authors do not recognize the two subspecies (e.g. Boycott & Bourquin, 2000), there is genetic evidence to suggest that there is a difference (e.g. Le et al., 2006). Release areas had to be on private land in KZN, as releases are not permitted in state protected areas.
Added by: Sarina Wunderlich |