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Immediate response to translocation without acclimation from captivity to the wild in Hermann’s tortoise

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Abstract

Survival, reproductive and recruitment rates, along with health status, of translocated and resident individuals should be evaluated. However, gathering this information poses logistical constraints and requires long-term studies. Considering the urgent nature of many species’ situations where translocation would be appropriate, fast-assessment techniques should be tested. We assessed the immediate response to translocation of Hermann’s tortoises (Testudo hermanni hermanni) directly from captivity to the wild. Individuals were maintained in captivity 2 to 8 years before being released in spring 2013 into a natural population impacted by fire. During the critical 3 months post-release period, we radio-tracked translocated individuals (N = 12) and resident tortoises in spring 2013 (N = 14), plus another batch of resident tortoises in spring 2012 (N = 9). Movements, behaviours, body condition and body temperature were regularly recorded. All translocated tortoises acclimated well to their novel environment. We found no differences in movement, thermoregulation and body condition between translocated and resident tortoises. Body condition of all tortoises increased rapidly in spring. We found no sign of perturbation in resident tortoises. Contrarily, resident males mated with translocated females. Translocations should be further tested on larger spatial and time scales to improve population restoration programmes, especially in threatened species with limited dispersal ability.

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Acknowledgments

We thank field assistants, Mathieu Ausanneau, Manon Baptista, Stacy Baugier, Fran De Coster, Thomas Etien, Edhy Ghetti, Audrey Johany, Julie Jourdan, Laure Servant, Kathy Cano, Olivier Trepos, Sarah Boilet, Solène Briard, Marie Jehanno, Corinne Chaize, Loreline Jean and Camille Gravier. We are grateful to Sylvain Moulherat for statistical advice and Marc Cheylan and Albert Bertolero for advices. We also thank the CEN PACA and Conseil Général 83 for their collaboration. This study was funded by the Life Program European Project LIFE08NAT/F/000475, Lafarge Granulats Sud, the Federation Francophone pour l'Elevage et la Protection des Tortues (FFEPT) and conducted under the permits 83-2012/08 and 83-2012/09 issued by prefectural authorities and DDTM. We are indebted to F. Groumpf and C. Clothaire for continuous encouragements.

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  1. SOPTOM, Centre de Recherche et de Conservation des Chéloniens (CRCC), BP24, 83590, Gonfaron, France

    O. Lepeigneul, J. M. Ballouard, E. Beck, M. Barbier, A. Ekori & S. Caron

  2. Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, CEBC-CNRS UPR 1934, 79360, Villiers en Bois, France

    X. Bonnet

  3. Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d’Ecologie marine et continentale (IMBE), Avignon Université, UMR CNRS IRD Aix Marseille Université, IUT site Agroparc, BP 61207, 84911, Avignon cedex 09, France

    E. Buisson

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Lepeigneul, O., Ballouard, J.M., Bonnet, X. et al. Immediate response to translocation without acclimation from captivity to the wild in Hermann’s tortoise. Eur J Wildl Res 60, 897–907 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-014-0857-5

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