David Element
Wildlife
Photography and Digital Video Images
________________________
_________________________Reptiles 19 - European Pond Tortoises
EUROPEAN
POND TORTOISE Emys orbicularia
EUROPEAN
POND TORTOISE Emys orbicularia
EUROPEAN POND TORTOISE Emys orbicularia
EUROPEAN POND TORTOISE Emys orbicularia
EUROPEAN POND TORTOISE Emys orbicularia
- This European Pond Tortoise,
Terrapin
or Turtle
Emys orbicularia
(all these names seem to be acceptable) illustrated in the first four
photographs had obviously been introduced to a London park in which these
photographs were taken, presumably having outgrown its aquarium. Fossil
records indicate that these handsome yellow-spotted reptiles used to breed
in parts of the UK but as this one appeared to be living (albeit perfectly
happily) on its own in a reed bed reproduction would appear to be an
unlikely scenario. As these animals are able to hibernate during cold
winters this individual may survive for some years (possibly up to 100!)
provided that its conspicuous sunbathing habits don't attract the wrong
type of attention - in several of these pictures it has hauled itself onto
an anti-pollution boom in full view of the public. It is unlikely to cause
any significant damage to its surroundings. The final photograph was taken
of an individual in the South of France – and therefore somewhere that it
was supposed to be! European Pond Tortoises are becoming scarcer in their
natural (European) range and they are not commonly kept as pets, being
classified as Lower
Risk/near threatened on the IUCN Red List and
listed on Annex 1
of the EU Habitats
Directive.
- If
disease-free captive reptiles are responsibly bred in self-sustaining
populations by dealers then this should have no direct adverse impact on
their wild relatives. Conversely the illegal importation of endangered
species for profit cannot possibly be endorsed under any circumstances.
Other released reptiles may be far less benign, for example snapping
turtles!
- David’s films of British reptiles and
amphibians may be seen at: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4AirIEc0Nodlcvlf7oYAJgJo8k7pHJ-A.
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