The history of artificial breeding of radiated tortoises

radiated tortoise
Radiated Tortoise

Do you understand? The radiated tortoise was once endangered. Later, it was valued and protected by people, and artificially bred to expand the population. Now the radiated tortoise is deeply loved by people.

1. In the early 1980s, the American Zoo and Aquarium Society initiated a plan aimed at promoting the growth of endangered animals in captivity. The plan, known as the SSP (Species Survival Plan), monitors the growth of endangered species in captivity to protect the greatest possible growth and diversity of captive animals. In a 1985 SSP initiative for freed tortoises, 13 agencies and one department provided breeding status for 179 tortoises. To protect the greatest possible variety of genetic bloodlines in breeding, the program established pedigree registration, which means that if a radioactive tortoise has many offspring, its genes will If there are too many symptoms in the turtle, then it cannot be allowed to grow anymore. Such turtles will be lent or given to zoos that are only intended for exhibition and not for growth. Through careful recording and control, the diversity of genes has been maintained, and the health of artificially bred tortoises has also been protected. Since the launch of this project, the number of organizations and departments involved has exceeded twice. Tortoise's SSP is a good start.

2. The development of radioactive tortoises under artificial breeding has achieved obvious success. Since the first hatchlings hatched in 1973, more and more tortoises have been artificially raised. For example, in Frank Slaven's 1990 "Record of Reptilian and Amphibian Breeding," there are records of the birth of more than 50 radioactive tortoises. There are currently 60 tortoises at the Gladys Porter Zoo, while the New York Zoological Society has 88 at St. Catherine's Island in Georgia. Currently, Slaven's registry lists 343 captive-bred radioactive tortoises. Unfortunately for the free-roaming tortoise, development under artificial conditions has been successful, saving the tortoise from destruction despite threats to its survival in a thriving environment. Even so, artificial development plans cannot and should not be used to explain the habitat of endangered species such as radioactive tortoises.The damage to the situation is irrelevant. We should thank the agencies and institutions that work hard to make the development plan successful. Without their efforts, we may not be able to see the Geocheloneradiata, one of the most beautiful tortoises in the world.

3. The radiated turtle is healthy and easy to maintain. Some people even call it the "rich man's sulcata" and is particularly popular in Japan. Taiwan began to introduce a large number of them in 2000, and there should be countless of them by now. However, the radiated tortoises that entered in the early stage were all the so-called black rays with fewer patterns, were strong and cold-resistant, had strong disease resistance, and grew faster. The later radiated turtles were almost all the so-called sun rays with more colorful patterns. Compared with the black rays, Up to now, solar radiation has lower resistance to diseases and lower temperatures, so the sacrifice rate is much higher than that of black radiation, and the growth rate is relatively slower. Due to its extremely large appetite, Black Radius grows much faster, but its disadvantage is that its back is relatively bulging.


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