Mark Pestov
Study and Conservation of the Mediterranean Spur-Thighed Tortoise (Testudo Graeca) in the Caucasus (Project "Attention: A Turtle!")
Mediterranean spur-thighed tortoise in her habitats in the Abkhazia Republic.
Mediterranean spur-thighed tortoise in her habitats in Krasnodar area, RF.
An egg of the Mediterranean tortoise.
The coordinator of the project, Dr. Mark Pestov with very large individual of Mediterranean spur-thighed tortoise.
| Town/Region | Country | Categories | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Krasnodar | Russian Federation | Europe, Hunting, Pet trade, Reptiles | 2 Aug 2010 |
The primary goals of the project in 2010-2011:
1. Estimation of modern distribution and number of Testudo graeca in the Russian Federation and Abkhazia, discovering the most important habitats ("key habitats"), estimation of their protection and influence of main limited factors. We plan to pay a special attention to northern and southern borders of the area of this species where its distribution is investigated not enough.
2. Prevention of illegal catching and selling of tortoises, protection of most important habitats in cooperation with the State structures for Nature Conservation of the Russian Federation and the Abkhazia Republic;
3. Collection of Mediterranean tortoises from their owners or their confiscation from illegal trade and returning them to the wild;
4. Making wide public support of the project by raising awareness about problems of tortoise's
protection;
5. Elaboration of recommendations for saving of Testudo graeca for the State structures for Nature Conservation of the Russian Federation and Abkhazia Republic; projection of new reservations in the most important habitats;
6. Development of the Center of rehabilitation and nursery for Testudo graeca, first in Russia on the basis of private "Safari-park" (Gelendjik city in Krasnodar area). Its main task is reproduction of this reptiles and reintroduction of its youth to their natural inhabitations.
The Project main news in 2010:
1. The officials of the Supervisory Natural Recourses Management Service on our initiative confiscated 8 young Mediterranean tortoises (aged 1-7 years) from illegal trade in the market (Novorossisk city, Krasnodar area). The animals were transferred to the our rehabilitation center in "Safari - park" (Gelendzhik city, Krasnodar area).
2. Together with the Chairman of the Committee on Ecology and Wildlife Management of the Abkhazia Republic Dr. Roman S. Dbar we have visited the most important habitats (key habitats) of Testudo graeca which we found in 2009 near the borders of the Pitsunda-Mjussersky Reserve. During our joint work the decision on giving the status of especially protected natural territory for these key habitats was made.
Read about Mark's previous work with Spur-Thighed Tortoise http://www.ruffordsmallgrants.org/rsg/projects/mark_pestov_0 or for more information contact vipera@dront.ru