TERRAPIN RELEASE
The Trust released a serrated terrapin into Tiwi River on 8th Aug 2003.
The terrapin came into our hands through a conscientious security
manager in a neighbouring hotel who contacted us after a pair of
tourists went to him for help in getting a permit to take the terrapin
to their country. The Swiss tourists had bought it from beach boys.
It is illegal to move any wild animal from Kenya, and,
understanding this they allowed us to take the terrapin for release back
to its natural habitat. Terrapins are
members of the order Chelonion –
armoured reptiles.
They have a distinctive exoskeleton made up of a carapace and a
plastron. Terrapins are adapted to living in the water (strictly fresh)
though they can move reasonably fast even on land.Terrapins are carnivorous. They need to be fed on fresh meat or fish
while in captive care. They should not
be kept too long in a small area such as a box or cage. It may lead to
muscle atrophy, which in turn reduces the reptile’s chances of survival
when back in the wild as it will not be properly able to catch prey or
escape predators. While still in captive care,
they need to be removed from their quarters and allowed to walk around
for about an hour for exercise. They need to be returned to
their natural environment – a river or pond - as soon as possible.
TORTOISE RELEASE
Three days after the terrapin release (11th August) the Trust also
released a tortoise into its forest. This forest is similar to the one
from which it was removed. The tortoise,
a vegetarian cousin of the terrapin, was initially brought to the Trust
by a young man who wanted to sell it to us. Once he understood that
wildlife is illegal to sell wildlife, and that it is best left in the
wild, he surrendered it to the Trust for release.
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| Terrapin:
The long trek |
Freedom! |
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| Tortoise: At release
site |
Mad dash |
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