CONSERVATION PLANS
MEDITERRANEAN
TURTLE
MORUNO HEDGEHOG
GOLDEN PHEASANT
RECOVERY PLAN FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN TURTLE
We collaborate with the Department of Territory and Sustainability in the breeding and reproduction of the Mediterranean Turtle (Testudo hermanni hermanni). In Catalonia, several actions are carried out aimed at the conservation of this species. It has been classified as an endangered species and is protected by the Animal Protection Law (DOGC 5113, of 04.17.2008).
Since 2010, work has been underway on drafting the plan for the recovery of the species, which establishes guidelines to reduce the threats that affect it.
For a few years now, the Department of Territory and Sustainability of the Generalitat of Catalonia, in collaboration with the Amphibian and Reptile Recovery Center of Catalonia, CRARC, has coordinated a series of actions to strengthen the population through captive breeding and programs of reintroduction in areas of the Catalan territory, beginning the reintroduction in its natural and wild population, the Sierra de L’Albera.
Following the reintroduction program in other areas of the Catalan territory, such as the Garraf massif, the Sierra de Montsant, the Ebro Delta or Marça. Threat factors are habitat destruction and alteration, fires, road kill, predation and plunder.
The Mediterranean tortoise is the only native terrestrial chelonian that can be found in Catalonia and its geographical distribution is focused on five protected natural spaces: Garraf Park, Sierra Montsant Natural Park, Sierra de Llabería, Delta Ebro Natural Park and the Paraje Natural de l’ Albera, which is the only one with a native population.
Its natural habitat is the Mediterranean ecosystem, preferring low, bushy vegetation, with no or clear tree cover. It can also be found in abandoned farm fields. It is often located around streams. As for altitude, it preferably lives between 100 and 400 meters.
Strongly contrasting yellow and black overall color. It is basically herbivorous, oviparous and can live between 40 and 60 years.
Measurements: 14 – 18 cm
Origin: European Mediterranean coast
Red List: Near Threatened
MORUNO HEDGEHOG
Since 2020, we have been collaborating with Galanthus , an entity dedicated to the study and dissemination of the Environment, and the Barcelona Zoo Foundation in the project to strengthen the wild hedgehog population. The wild species with a Mediterranean distribution, Atelerix algirus, is the usual species found in Parc Samà and the objective of the project is to strengthen the group of Moorish hedgehog Atelerix algirus in the park and guarantee its viability.
EUROPEAN STUDBOOK, GOLDEN PHEASANT ESB
In 2013, Parc Samà began participating in the EP5000 Golden Pheasant breeding project . It was a project that was born at the initiative of some Belgian breeders with the aim of creating a viable long-term population of purebred golden pheasant, after verifying the high crossbreeding between captive populations. The project began with the importation of 5,000 eggs from Asia with pure genotype and they began to reproduce.
Since 2021, the 5000 series golden pheasant has become a European Studbook of the EAZA, European Association of Zoos and Aquariums . The Golden Pheasant ESB is a breeding program that aims to conserve healthy populations of these animals so that their genetic health is protected. It is a program that acts to provide a future for this vulnerable species, through education and in situ conservation work with the aim of stabilizing their natural habitats and changing destructive behaviors.
