Conservation strategies for European Pond Terrapins

Baby European Pond Terrapin

The European Pond Terrapin (Emys orbicularis) is one of only two freshwater turtles native to Europe. Although it is widely distributed across Europe, the terrapin is seriously threatened by the decline and deterioration of its wetlands habitat and by competition with the introduced Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans). The European Pond Terrapin’s breeding and nesting habits, which involve laying eggs on land, also make the species very susceptible to disturbance and predation.

European Pond Terrapins occur in the Vallée des Baux of Provence, particularly in the remaining Ilon and Beauchamp marshes. The invasive, non-native Red-eared Slider is also known to exist in the area. For a number of years, biologists with A Rocha France have observed hundreds of terrapin nests at the edge of the Ilon Marsh that have suffered predation by foxes and badgers, while successful breeding has been recorded only once. There has also been evidence of terrapin poaching in some of the local marshes. Due to the vulnerability of the terrapin, A Rocha France has begun a four-year project to study the dynamics and distribution of the region’s populations and design and implement conservation strategies for the preservation of the species and enhancement of its nesting success.

In 2003 and 2004, observations on the two turtle species were made and the predation of the nest sites was documented. A standard monitoring route around the main nesting zones in the Ilon Marsh was defined. During the incubation season (1 June – 31 August) this route was traversed weekly and after periods of rain. For each nest discovered, the exact location, the number of eggs predated, the possible date of predation, and the likely predator was recorded. The reproductive success of the turtles was assessed by ‘pit-fall’ traps between the nest sites and the marsh, allowing the turtle hatchlings to be identified, sexed and counted.

European Pond Terrapin

In 2004, an anti-predation strategy was trialled. Canine repellent was sprayed on the west side of the Ilon Marsh and for comparison, the other side was left unsprayed. There was a decrease in predation on the west side of the marsh and an increase in predation in the area not sprayed; the significance of this needs further investigation.

Other methods of conservation are planned for implementation in future years. These include installation of an electric fence around the banks of the Ilon Marsh, thereby prohibiting large mammalian predators from reaching the nests of the European Pond Terrapin. It is also proposed to trap Red-eared Sliders and remove them to a turtle farm in the local area, thus reducing competition with the native species.

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Project leader: Francois Tron. For further details contact france@arocha.org