Hi
I have 3 wild Greek tortoises in my garden, one large female, a medium male and a small male. 2 were already here when I moved in and the large one moved in about 3 or 4 months ago.
I have a large block around 1,500 sq metres so they generally don't bump into each other though I've caught both of the males bumping the female on the side a couple of times.
On Saturday last week I saw the female tortoise laying eggs in a sunny corner in the garden. Then she spent 3 days in the same area protecting the eggs I assume. Now she's moving around the garden but she still goes back to the place where she hid the eggs and she sleeps on top.
My question is what should I do? Do I protect the area in any way? I have a cat that lives in the garden and I live in Morocco so there're lots of stray cats and sometimes they get into the garden as well. The temperature outside gets to mid 20s during the day right now but it can be as low as 12 at night.
How long can I expect the incubation period to be? What do I need to do once the eggs hatch?
If I protect the area is it ok to leave the mother outside the protected perimeter?
Any help is greatly appreciated.
I have 3 wild Greek tortoises in my garden, one large female, a medium male and a small male. 2 were already here when I moved in and the large one moved in about 3 or 4 months ago.
I have a large block around 1,500 sq metres so they generally don't bump into each other though I've caught both of the males bumping the female on the side a couple of times.
On Saturday last week I saw the female tortoise laying eggs in a sunny corner in the garden. Then she spent 3 days in the same area protecting the eggs I assume. Now she's moving around the garden but she still goes back to the place where she hid the eggs and she sleeps on top.
My question is what should I do? Do I protect the area in any way? I have a cat that lives in the garden and I live in Morocco so there're lots of stray cats and sometimes they get into the garden as well. The temperature outside gets to mid 20s during the day right now but it can be as low as 12 at night.
How long can I expect the incubation period to be? What do I need to do once the eggs hatch?
If I protect the area is it ok to leave the mother outside the protected perimeter?
Any help is greatly appreciated.