urgent appeal for help!

[Geomyda]

In what may be classed as a major and significant event, a major wildfire swept through the Elandsberg Nature Reserve, Western Cape, South Africa on the 8th and 9th January 2012 and burned out almost 100% of habitat occupied by about 80% of the world’s critically endangered geometric tortoise Psammobates geometricus. The reserve also supports a good population of parrot-beaked tortoises Homopus areolatus, and low numbers of angulate tortoises Chersina angulata. The fire left <10% of typical geometric tortoise habitat in the landscape. Emergency response teams comprising the landowner, the provincial (state) conservation authority, CapeNature, and the district municipality, supported by at least three aerial fire-fighting teams (helicopters with water buckets) could not contain this wildfire, dri ven by a gale force wind in temperatures reaching the upper 30°Cs.

Since Wednesday, 11 January until yesterday, 16 January, a total of just over 130 geometric, padloper and angulate tortoises have been recovered from the burned area in the reserve by members of CapeNature, Elandsberg Farms, University of the Western Cape (UWC) and several volunteers, and are being kept in a safe, undisclosed location. The animals are doing well under the circumstances and are hydrated regularly and feeding have started. A handful of surviving animals have burns on their shells and legs and we have sought professional advice on how to pull them through.

[Watermelon]

How do we help?

[Geomyda]

Originally Posted by Watermelon

How do we help?

German Herp society are seeking funds to assist the South African recovery of these highly endangered animals.
As I understand it, the natural habitat is currently badly damaged and animals collected will need a period of Quasi captivity in the region in order to allow natural habitat regeneration. I have requested further details of the plan and will communicate this as soon as it is received. My sense is that local landowners will husband the animals under supervision from a South African University: Recovery phase. Once this has been achieved a subsequent release programme will kick in.