Geometric tortoise rehabilitation project

In January of 2012, a natural wildfire at Elandsberg Nature Reserve burnt through about 2000 ha of the nature reserve. Elandsberg, with the help of Cape Nature and volunteers, pooled resources after the fire to search and rescue tortoises in the reserve as most of their habitat had burnt.

Whilst being held in temporary holding camps in the unburned part of the reserve, the tortoises continued breeding and an opportunity was seen to boost this critically endangered species population numbers. Amongst other management and monitoring activities, hatchlings are collected annually and raised in protected holding areas, maximising survival rate until they are big enough to go back into their habitat.
 
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