Reinforcement as a conservation tool – assessing site fidelity and movement of the endangered elongated tortoise Indotestudo elongata (Blyth, 1854)

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Flora Ihlow - , Research Museum Alexander Koenig - Leibniz Institute for Animal Biodiversity (Author)
  • Dennis Rödder - , Research Museum Alexander Koenig - Leibniz Institute for Animal Biodiversity (Author)
  • Thomas Bochynek - , Monash University, Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) (Author)
  • Sovath Sothanin - , Ministry of Environment (Cambodia) (Author)
  • Markus Handschuh - , Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity (ACCB) (Author)
  • Wolfgang Böhme - , Research Museum Alexander Koenig - Leibniz Institute for Animal Biodiversity (Author)

Abstract

In order to assess the efficacy of reinforcement as a conservation tool for rehabilitated elongated tortoises Indotestudo elongata (Blyth, 1854) we released 10 adults equipped with radio tracking transmitters to the Kulen Promtep Wildlife Sanctuary in northern Cambodia. Based on short-term success indicators for reintroduction studies on reptiles we studied the tortoises’ adaptation to the new environment for five months. The tortoises successfully settled in the new environment without showing adverse effects regarding their behaviour, condition index (CI) and physical appearance. The annual survival rate was 76%. Based on individual locations collected, we analysed the tortoises’ movement patterns including daily displacement, five-month and seasonal home range sizes using minimum convex polygons (MCPs) and fixed kernel density estimators (KDEs).

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2473-2485
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of natural history : an international journal of taxonomic and general biology
Volume48
Issue number39-40
Publication statusPublished - 26 Oct 2014
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • Kernel density estimator, Kulen Promtep Wildlife Sanctuary, Land use, Minimum convex polygon estimator, Radio tracking, Reinforcement, Reintroduction, Release, Testudinidae