If you prefer to always view the website in English, please click here.

The new life of the Hermann’s tortoise

With Endesa we support the conservation of the Mediterranean turtle population. An endangered species found in the region of Les Garrigues (Lleida).

Image of a Meditarrean Tortoise

There is evidence to suggest that the species existed during the Neolithic period. The Hermann’s tortoise (Testudo hermanni) also features in Greek mythology, which tells how Hermes made his lyre from the empty shell of this species. The remains found in Pompeii confirm that these reptiles were kept as pets in Roman times and now, in the 21st century, the Testudo hermanni is classified as “endangered”.

Oddly enough, this species has one of the smallest geographical distributions in Western Europe. Within the Iberian Peninsula, Catalonia is the only area in which these tortoises can be found living in the wild… and they are few and far between. Numerous attempts at getting them to develop and reproduce in a certain area have been relatively unsuccessful.

“There are currently more tortoises in captivity than in the wild. Many people keep them in enclosed patios and feed and take care of them for breeding. Therefore, when they are released into an open space, as they are used to being fed and sheltered, the outcome is not favourable. The result is dispersal. They are not able to create a breeding nucleus.” Jesús Almarza is the Technical Director of Trenca, an association dedicated to the defence and conservation of fauna, especially in the region of Les Garrigues (Lleida).

“The Hermann’s tortoise is a species in danger of extinction, hence the need to establish a population that can reproduce in a semi-captive environment”

Jesús Almarza, Technical Director of Trenca

Trenca is responsible for a project aimed at creating a colony of Hermann’s tortoises that can live in this area in a semi-captive environment in which the tortoises can reproduce, and therefore recover the species without having to release the animals on a permanent basis. This project has already been put in motion and Endesa’s involvement is active and ongoing, by financing the work of technical experts in biodiversity conservation. “The first thing Endesa’s experts did was visit the area to define the work required to create the perfect habitat for the tortoises”, recalls Almarza.

This work, which was required in order to create a population of tortoises in a semi-captive environment, was carried out in a group of rural properties, covering an area of around 20 hectares managed by Trenca in Valle Mayor de Bovera (Lleida). Two ponds (400 and 100 square metres, respectively) were built and waterproofed with compacted clay. Fencing systems and double enclosures were also installed in the properties. The idea was to protect them insofar as possible from predators such as boars or foxes, enabling them to live in the wild, although closely monitored.

 

The release of the tortoises, a resounding success

22 June 2016. In collaboration with CRARC (Catalan Centre for Recovery of Amphibians and Reptiles) and with the assistance of volunteers, since 2016, through the Testudo hermanni project, numerous Hermann’s tortoises have been released. They all had a chip inserted in their shell to identify them, which allows permanent control and supervision to help them in their reintroduction into the habitat. As a result of this monitoring, a minimum survival of 40% of the reintroduced specimens has been detected.

Volunteers carrying out the release of Mediterranean tortoises in Bovera (Lleida).

Recently, the maintenance work has continued on the farm as a refuge, and for the monitoring and release of new specimens. On 30 October 2019, with the help of volunteers and with a great social impact, the release of another 30 adult specimens was carried out, provided by the Centre for the Recovery of Amphibians and Reptiles of Catalonia (CRARC), in addition to the 112 released in previous years and to individuals already born in the Bovera reproductive nucleus. 

“Our challenge is to work towards preventing the extinction of this species. Campaigning for the recovery of fauna is not new to us; it is our raison d’être”

These details indicate that the project, to date, is being a resounding success; the tortoises have adapted to the environment and have begun to fulfil one of the project’s most important targets: for the population recently reintroduced into the property to become a new reproduction nucleus for this species, which, in time, will enable existing populations of unconnected Mediterranean tortoises to be connected.

The idea is that, as the turtles are laying successfully and fruitfully, the hatchlings can leave the environment to create other populations and, in the future, this experience can even be exported to other parts of Spain.

Related Content

advise icon go to the advise Facebook icon go to Facebook Twitter icon go to Twitter Youtube icon go to Youtube Messenger icon go to Messenger Linkedin icon go to Linkedin Instagram icon go to Instagram Shared Link icon Go to the shared link Checkmark Success icon Checkmark Success down arrow icon down arrow Previous Go to previous Next Go to the next close icon close add icon add up arrow icon up arrow oblique arrow icon look obliquely Arrow down icon Arrow down search engine icon search search engine icon search share icon share filter icon filter email icon send mail email icon email phone icon phone fax icon fac print icon print play icon play user icon go to the user section error icon an error has occurred info icon information thumb up icon like thumb up icon like thumb down icon don't like thumb down icon don't like clock icon Clock Lamp icon Lamp List icon List Map icon Go to the map Phone icon Phone Emergency icon Emergency Pause icon Pause Play icon Play Logout icon Sign off Phone icon Phone
go back icon go back in navigation number 50 icon go to product Tempo Happy 50 Horas calendar icon go to product Tempo Happy Día companies icon go to the business segment gas icon go to gas product catalog rising sun icon go to Tempo Verde-Renewable Energy product home icon go to the household segment 24 hours icon go to One Luz product electricity icon go to Luz's product catalog electricity and gas icon go to the Luz + Gas product catalog moon icon go to product One night light monkey wrench icon go to breakdowns and repairs sun icon go to Tempo Solar product clock icon go to Tempo Happy products 2 hour clock icon go to Tempo Happy 2 Hours product 24 hours icon go to product One Luz number 50 icon go to product Tempo Happy 50 Hours Medium Voltage power line See product catalog with electricity consumption from € 36,000 to € 360,000 / year High Voltage power line See catalog of products with electricity consumption more than € 360,000 / year company icon go to the business segment calendar icon go to product Tempo Happy Day Property management firms icon go to the Property management firms DarkSite icon DarkSite icon light bulb icon See product catalog with electricity consumption less than € 6,000 / year electricity and gas icon go to the Electricity+ Gas Products catalog electricity icon go to the electrical products catalog email icon email contact fax icon fax contact Low Pressure gas icon see catalog of gas products with consumption of less than € 6,000 / year High Pressure gas icon see catalog of gas products with consumption from € 6,000 to € 240,000 / year Medium Pressure gas icon see catalog of gas products with consumption of more than € 240,000 / year gas icon go to gas product catalog Enel icon go to the enel website heater icon heater maintenance service heater maintenance icon go to maintenance service OKGas Heater home icon go to the household segment pressure cooker icon pressure cooker monkey wrench icon go to breakdowns and repairs Medium Voltage power line icon see catalog of electricity products with consumption from € 6,000 to € 36,000 / year moon icon go to product One Night Light sphere icon go to personal website phone icon telephone contact rising sun icon go to Tempo Verde-Renewable Energy product solar panel icon go to photovoltaic solar energy clock icon go to Tempo Happy products black handyman icon with thumb down selected the reaction "I don't like it" little hand icon with thumb down select the reaction "I don't like it" black hand icon with thumb up selected the "like" reaction little hand icon with thumb up select the "like" reaction
Añadir otro equipo eléctrico Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Eliminar equipo eléctrico Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Aspiradora Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Horno Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Lavadora Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Lavavajillas Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Microondas Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Plancha Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Punto de recarga vehículo eléctrico Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Radiador eléctrico Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Secadora Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Split Aire Acondicionado Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Termo Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Tostador Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Vitrocerámica Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Power edit Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Map marker Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit.