25th Annual Meeting and Symposium of the
Desert Tortoise Council, April 21-24, 2000
Abstracts

Translocation as a Tool for Conservation of the Desert Tortoise: Can Pet Tortoises be Repatriated?

Kim Field^1,2, C. R. Tracy¹, P. A. Medica³, R. M. Marlow¹, and P. S. Corn^4
1Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology, and Biological Resources Research Center University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557
²Current Address: Arizona Game and Fish Department, Phoenix, AZ
³U.S. Geological Survey, Las Vegas, NV 89108
⁴Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute, Missoula, MT 59807

Desert tortoises with pet and wild backgrounds were experimentally translocated to the Large-Scale Translocation Study (LSTS) site near Jean, Nevada in the spring of 1998. These tortoises received identical treatment upon translocation allowing comparison of the successes of translocating tortoises from pet or wild backgrounds. All experimental tortoises spent time at the Desert Tortoise Conservation Center (DTCC) in Las Vegas, Nevada before being translocated. Tortoises with wild backgrounds were collected from new urban development sites and were placed in holding pens at the DTCC in 1997. Unwanted pet tortoises also were taken to the DTCC. Thirteen wild adults, two wild juveniles, 17 pet adults and eight pet juveniles were equipped with radio transmitters and translocated in April 1998. The tortoises were monitored for 14 months. During that time, movements, changes in body mass, changes in carapace length, and a qualitative assessment of general condition were measured. Pet and wild tortoises had no adult mortality. Two of the eight pet juveniles died during 1998. Neither movements nor changes in body mass following release differed statistically for pet and wild tortoises of either sex. Based upon our short-term results, it appears that pet and wild tortoises can be repatriated to the wild without adverse negative consequences. However, the spring of our experiment (1998) had abundant rainfall and much forage. Although unfavorable weather conditions may produce different results, we found no evidence that formerly pet desert tortoises are inept at survival in the wild.