The critically endangered Egyptian tortoise, also known as Kleinmann’s tortoise and Leith’s tortoise, is effectively extinct in most of its original habitat. The Egyptian Tortoise is the smallest land turtle in the Northern Hemisphere. Only 4 to 5 inches long, the light colours of the shell reflect the sun's heat, allowing the tortoises to forage for grasses and other vegetation in the dry, rocky, desert and coastal salt marshes. Living between the northern edge of the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean coast, the population of these tiny tortoises have been decimated by the loss of habitat and collection for the pet trade. The only known populations are in Libya, where the tortoises are not protected by law. It is important to save this rare tortoise as it is is one of the world's smallest tortoises and is a very old species of reptile.
Legal safeguards have been put in place but more needs to be done. In 1996, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature placed the Egyptian tortoise on a list of threatened animals. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) banned international trade in the species except for scientific purposes.Egyptian law banned their sale, purchase or transport without permits but implementation is difficult. In January 1997, police cracked down on illegal traders selling hundreds of tortoises collected from Libya in the Tunsi pet market in central Cairo.
The British-based Tortoise Trust is the world’s largest tortoise and turtle organization and stepped in to assist in the saving of this species.
Tortoise Care Egypt, a group of international and local organizations and individuals that came together to help conserve the Egyptian tortoise, was also formed help take care of the animals. Breeding and Rehabilitation Programs are now under way and Zaranik Protectorate in north Sinai was chosen as the ideal location to set up the enclosure and pilot rehabilitation program as it was part of the tortoise’s natural habitat. These programs have seen small but important successes in the fight to save this rare species.
Measures:
Useful links
http://www.tortoisetrust.org/guests/tortoisecare/project.html
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-the-Endangered-Egyptian-Tortoise/121111457957656
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kleinmann's_tortoise
Legal safeguards have been put in place but more needs to be done. In 1996, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature placed the Egyptian tortoise on a list of threatened animals. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) banned international trade in the species except for scientific purposes.Egyptian law banned their sale, purchase or transport without permits but implementation is difficult. In January 1997, police cracked down on illegal traders selling hundreds of tortoises collected from Libya in the Tunsi pet market in central Cairo.
The British-based Tortoise Trust is the world’s largest tortoise and turtle organization and stepped in to assist in the saving of this species.
Tortoise Care Egypt, a group of international and local organizations and individuals that came together to help conserve the Egyptian tortoise, was also formed help take care of the animals. Breeding and Rehabilitation Programs are now under way and Zaranik Protectorate in north Sinai was chosen as the ideal location to set up the enclosure and pilot rehabilitation program as it was part of the tortoise’s natural habitat. These programs have seen small but important successes in the fight to save this rare species.
Measures:
- Halt the illegal collection and trade in the Egyptian Tortoise;
- Protect the species' natural habitats;
- Set-up sustainable captive breeding programs;
- Rehabilitate and reintroduce animals back into the wild;
- Build capacity in all aspects of tortoise care;
- Generate awareness and public support for conservation efforts;
- Promote networking and cooperation between the different bodies working for and concerned about the continued survival of the species.
Useful links
http://www.tortoisetrust.org/guests/tortoisecare/project.html
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-the-Endangered-Egyptian-Tortoise/121111457957656
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kleinmann's_tortoise