Sulcatas to be reintroduced in the wilds of Senegal

Status
Not open for further replies.

Tom

The Dog Trainer
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 9, 2010
Messages
63,264
Location (City and/or State)
Southern California
Where have you been? That is Tomas. He is a friend of Dean and I. He founded and runs the African Chelonian Institue. He is the one I frequently refer to for info on wild sulcatas.
 

tortadise

Well-Known Member
Moderator
10 Year Member!
Joined
Mar 2, 2012
Messages
9,560
Location (City and/or State)
Tropical South Texas
Just refreshing a post. I know its old but might be nice for some new people. Next time you talk to him, tell him to do an update on the program.
 

Yellow Turtle

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Aug 5, 2012
Messages
1,608
Location (City and/or State)
Indonesia
I don't know if sulcata really needs reintroduction to native environment as they seem now everywhere in the world, including my country...
 

Cowboy_Ken

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Joined
Nov 18, 2011
Messages
17,560
Location (City and/or State)
Suburban-life in Salem, Oregon
In their native environment they face strong competition with local natives goats for the graze they Feed on. Also, they are a handy, packable meal that can survive for awhile with no food or water.
 

Tom

The Dog Trainer
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 9, 2010
Messages
63,264
Location (City and/or State)
Southern California
tortadise said:
Just refreshing a post. I know its old but might be nice for some new people. Next time you talk to him, tell him to do an update on the program.

Even better, we are anxiously awaiting the release of his new book, any day now. It shows the ranges, local temps, burrow temps and humidity, and much about the habits of wild sulcatas.


Yellow Turtle said:
I don't know if sulcata really needs reintroduction to native environment as they seem now everywhere in the world, including my country...

They are highly endangered in the wild. They are now extinct in at least two countries, and likely more, but the political climate in Africa makes study in some areas dangerous or impossible. They were nearly extinct in Senegal. When Tomas began his reintroductions, there were only about 40 left in the wild. That's FOUR ZERO. 40. Not 40,000. Only 40. The sulcata is in desperate need of a helping hand in its natural range, even if they are in abundance elsewhere in the world.
 

Yellow Turtle

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Aug 5, 2012
Messages
1,608
Location (City and/or State)
Indonesia
Oh I see, that's good knowledge to know. I really hope the introduction works, although I also have no concern if it doesn't.

Can't really blame poor and unstable countries to utilize whatever they have in the wild to use as food.
 

CourtneyAndCarl

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jun 1, 2012
Messages
1,971
Location (City and/or State)
Middle of nowhere
Yellow Turtle said:
Oh I see, that's good knowledge to know. I really hope the introduction works, although I also have no concern if it doesn't.

Can't really blame poor and unstable countries to utilize whatever they have in the wild to use as food.

Although it's unfortunate, I agree. They have had the hardest time with conservation in Madagascar because the locals have been eating the endangered lemur as well as tortoise species there for hundreds of years and it's not like you can just walk in and say "sorry, these aren't your food anymore, find something else"
 

Tom

The Dog Trainer
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 9, 2010
Messages
63,264
Location (City and/or State)
Southern California
In the case of wild sulcatas, being eaten is only an issue in a few areas. The main problem is encroachment and over grazing from humans and their herds of grazing animals. In some cultures, wild ones are also collected and kept in the yard as "good luck charms". This was the case in Senegal, and this is where Tomas found a lot of his current breeding stock for the reintroductions. Part of the goal of his African Chelonian Institute is to welcome the locals and educate them about the animals they share their world with.
 

EricIvins

Active Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Sep 23, 2009
Messages
1,183
CourtneyAndCarl said:
Yellow Turtle said:
Oh I see, that's good knowledge to know. I really hope the introduction works, although I also have no concern if it doesn't.

Can't really blame poor and unstable countries to utilize whatever they have in the wild to use as food.

Although it's unfortunate, I agree. They have had the hardest time with conservation in Madagascar because the locals have been eating the endangered lemur as well as tortoise species there for hundreds of years and it's not like you can just walk in and say "sorry, these aren't your food anymore, find something else"

Off topic, but this isn't true at all. 98% of Malagasy culture(s) did not eat Tortoises up untill the late 1900s. Asian Loggers logging on the Island jump started that process. The many Cultures held beliefs and Taboos that kept most animals on the Island relatively safe untill the modern world came to Madagascar. This brought modern beliefs that superceeded the legends and superstitions about a lot of the animals endemic to Madagascar.
 

CourtneyAndCarl

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jun 1, 2012
Messages
1,971
Location (City and/or State)
Middle of nowhere
EricIvins said:
CourtneyAndCarl said:
Yellow Turtle said:
Oh I see, that's good knowledge to know. I really hope the introduction works, although I also have no concern if it doesn't.

Can't really blame poor and unstable countries to utilize whatever they have in the wild to use as food.

Although it's unfortunate, I agree. They have had the hardest time with conservation in Madagascar because the locals have been eating the endangered lemur as well as tortoise species there for hundreds of years and it's not like you can just walk in and say "sorry, these aren't your food anymore, find something else"

Off topic, but this isn't true at all. 98% of Malagasy culture(s) did not eat Tortoises up untill the late 1900s. Asian Loggers logging on the Island jump started that process. The many Cultures held beliefs and Taboos that kept most animals on the Island relatively safe untill the modern world came to Madagascar. This brought modern beliefs that superceeded the legends and superstitions about a lot of the animals endemic to Madagascar.

Either way, most people would be offended if outside people came in and told them what and what not to eat, especially if you are in a country stricken by poverty and finding something to eat is hard enough as it is.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

New Posts

Top