Press: Rare Tortoises Moved to New Home

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Posted by Wes von Papine�u on October 22, 2000 at 10:05:31:

SALT LAKE TRIBUNE (Utah) 22 October 00 Rare Tortoises Moved to New Home
Hurricane (AP): Ten rare Mojave desert tortoises have been released into the Red Cliffs Reserve near Hurricane.
Most of the tortoises were taken from a construction site in St. George and released into the reserve as part of a five-year study to see how well the reptiles adapt when they are moved to new surroundings.
The desert tortoise was designated as threatened in 1990 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The species is also protected under Washington County's Habitat Conservation Plan, which designates the 60,000-acre Red Cliffs Reserve north of the city as protected tortoise habitat. Outside the reserve area, the Endangered Species Act requires private land owners to notify the county if there are tortoises on land about to be developed, so they can be removed safely.
Urban development and the accompanying disruption of fragile desert ecosystems increasingly threaten tortoise populations throughout the Southwest.
They have difficulty recovering because they reproduce slowly: females do not usually breed until they are 15 to 20 years old, and only two or three out of 100 young born survive to adulthood. Those that do make it can live to be 100.
County biologist Lori Rose said research done at the University of Nevada at Reno indicates relocated tortoises can thrive if they are moved to suitable habitat. She said the county and the Division of Wildlife Resources have moved two other sets of tortoises onto the reserve this year, with some success.
"The idea is to give displaced tortoises a second chance, and tortoises are adapting well," she said.

Rare Tortoises Moved to New Home

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: SALT LAKE TRIBUNE (Utah) 22 October 00 Rare Tortoises Moved to New Home : Hurricane (AP): Ten rare Mojave desert tortoises have been released into the Red Cliffs Reserve near Hurricane. : Most of the tortoises were taken from a construction site in St. George and released into the reserve as part of a five-year study to see how well the reptiles adapt when they are moved to new surroundings. : The desert tortoise was designated as threatened in 1990 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. : The species is also protected under Washington County's Habitat Conservation Plan, which designates the 60,000-acre Red Cliffs Reserve north of the city as protected tortoise habitat. Outside the reserve area, the Endangered Species Act requires private land owners to notify the county if there are tortoises on land about to be developed, so they can be removed safely. : Urban development and the accompanying disruption of fragile desert ecosystems increasingly threaten tortoise populations throughout the Southwest. : They have difficulty recovering because they reproduce slowly: females do not usually breed until they are 15 to 20 years old, and only two or three out of 100 young born survive to adulthood. Those that do make it can live to be 100. : County biologist Lori Rose said research done at the University of Nevada at Reno indicates relocated tortoises can thrive if they are moved to suitable habitat. She said the county and the Division of Wildlife Resources have moved two other sets of tortoises onto the reserve this year, with some success. : "The idea is to give displaced tortoises a second chance, and tortoises are adapting well," she said.

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