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Red Footed Tortoises return to Argentina
#1
Red Footed Tortoises have not been seen in Argentina in 20 years. Now 40 of them are coming home.  They are being introduced at El Impenetrable Park.
Much of the forest they lived in was destroyed and they could not survive. Now they will be in a remote area where they can establish themselves. The tortoises to be released have come from a wildlife refuge in Paraguay. 
They have been kept in groups of ten at 4 pre-release sites. It is important for the species to expand its numbers and locations. It is also important for the forest to have the tortoises. They eat and travel and disperse seeds and ensure biodiversity in the forest. 
Two of the females have laid eggs at the pre-release sites. The eggs will be looked after until they hatch and the babies will be released to the wild.


https://www.theguardian.com/environment/...trable-aoe

The egg laying is a good sign. The babies will not be relocated tortoises. The new site will be their home from hatching. They will be native to the forest.
The project is already off to a good start. The return of a key species like this will help stabilize the ecosystem. Who knows how much good will come from having the tortoises back in the forest. They are a slow moving species so it may be 20 years before we know how much good they are doing.
Hopefully we will see them expand to cover their old territory and bring back forests that were lost.
[Image: IMG_9091.JPG]
Catherine

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