Angulate and parrot-beaked tortoises as well as a number of puff adders will be introduced to their new home at Hopewell Conservation Estate on Tuesday, December 20. They will be released back into the wild after months of successful rehabilitation at the Humps and Bumps Tortoise Rehab Centre in Port Elizabeth.
The centre rescues tortoises from fire-ravaged areas and also confiscates reptiles that are being kept as illegal pets in urban areas. “Some have also been hit by cars or bitten by dogs,” says Mark Marshal from Humps and Bumps.
Situated on the outskirts of Port Elizabeth, the 2,500 hectare Hopewell Nature Reserve on the Hopewell Conservation estate is the ideal new home for the tortoises and snakes. Following a massive restoration programme, the reserve is now home to a range of indigenous game species including, red hartebeest, mountain reedbuck, eland and Cape mountain zebra. There are also over 130 resident bird species in the area including the martial eagle, African fish eagle, various buzzards and a pair of nesting blue cranes.
“We are excited to be releasing these reptiles on to the property,” says Kevin Taylor, Hopewell Nature Reserve manager. “Most of the tortoises here had been hunted out, but now that the reserve has been restored and fenced, these tortoises will be the start of many generations to come. The snakes will also add a valuable aspect to the ecosystems on the reserve.”
According to Marshal, the Hopewell Nature Reserve is the perfect environment for the reptiles. “All of the tortoises are originally from the surrounding area, and their diets are vegetation specific. The Hopewell Nature Reserve offers an incredible protected environment with all of the indigenous plants that they’re used to eating.”
The estate welcomes day visitors and environmental groups, for more information contact: Kevin Taylor 079 502 0035.
