The Hermann's tortoise (Testudo hermanni)

The Hermann’s tortoise (Testudo hermanni Gmelin, 1789) subspecies hermanni, a native of France, is a terrestrial tortoise and an endangered species. It lives in the Mediterranean region of Europe, in France only in the Var, mainly in the “Massif des Maures” and in Corsica. Populations are declining and the species is protected. In nature, the life expectation of the Hermann’s tortoise is about 40 years. It develops sexual maturity around 12 or 13 years. On average the female lays 1-5 eggs. Like all turtles, this cold-blooded species must adapt its metabolism at the environmental temperature in order to have optimal activity. In cold months, they seek to protect themselves from the cold. If it's too hot, they shelter imperatively in the shade. This behavior varies depending on time of day and season. In nature, they can travel long distances to drink (about every 2 weeks in hot weather). Early in the morning they leave their night-shelter (they changing every night) and once they are warmed-up they go in search of food, leaves, flowers, fruits, sometimes snails and worms. At noon, when the sun is too hot, they hide in the bushes and come out at the end of the day.

With an excellent sense of direction, they locate perfectly due to the Earth's magnetic field and the sun, and probably because they have a very good olfaction and memory of their environment. By late afternoon, they leave their shelter to feed again.

In France, the Hermann’s tortoise is highly threatened by urbanization of the natural environment, forest and agricultural work and fires. Tortoises are attached to their place of living that is why they always try to return if removed by man. Some of those who survived the fires of 2003 were seen returning to their old habitat or continuing to be there despite its devastation (during the fires, they probably have been along the river, or in unaffected areas of fire). In Mediterranean natural areas, tortoises dig their hibernation shelter beneath a bush, and change from year to year, even if they seem still overwinter in the same area of their home range. They hibernate from mid-November to mid-March. Their heart rate and breathing are significantly lowered. They do not sleep properly speaking, but rather stay in a kind of lethargy. Captive turtles do also overwinter, a vital need for them.

Released tortoises from captivity have dented scales so-called "dragons back." This deformation of the shell is due to malnutrition, often observed in captured specimens. It’s not desirable to release tortoises from captivity, in order to avoid hybrids. The CEEP coordinates an investigation in the Var and Corsica, to better understand the ecology of the species in order to protect it. You can participate in the survey (see French pdf).

Filming VarWild
http://www.filming-varwild.com/