Returning them back to the wild: Movement patterns of repatriated Egyptian Tortoises, Testudo kleinmanni Lortet, 1883 (Sauropsida: Testudinidae)

Abstract

This paper reports the movement patterns of two hard released, repatriated Egyptian Tortoises, Testudo kleinmanni, into Omayed Protectorate, Egypt. Upon release, both tortoises immediately dispersed away from the release point. The maximum dispersal distances from the release site were 1455 m and 1131 m. These tortoises had exceedingly large activity ranges (mean 72.2 ha) which were roughly 10 times the size recorded for other T. kleinmanni populations. There was also some spatial overlap and potential competition with livestock for vegetation, as 35 % of tortoise relocations were found within 2 m of livestock tracks. We suggest that any future tortoise repatriations into Omayed Protectorate should consider methods such as soft releases that could potentially reduce the initial long distance dispersals and the exceptionally large activity ranges