Florida Gopher tortoise relocation: Overview and case study

Abstract

Gopher tortoise Gopherus polyphemus populations are greatly reduced from former numbers. Relocation is one technique currently being used to protect tortoises on land being developed. Previous relocations have generally been poorly documented and the usefulness of relocation for tortoise conservation is unclear. In this study, 85 tortoises were relocated from a development site to a county park 25 km away where tortoises had been extirpated. Two years after release, 35 tortoises remained in the park, an apparently stable population. The presence of hatchlings demonstrated that successful reproduction was occurring. This study showed that it is possible to relocate and reintroduce gopher tortoises fairly successfully. It does not support the suggestions of previous workers that social structure determinants such as sex and size, gravidity, or on-site penning before release, may influence the success rate. © 1989.