Feldman Ecopark in cooperation with the World Open Foundation for Animal Rehabilitation and Reintroduction (WOFARR) launches a new nature conservation project called Tortoise Farm. This means the establishment in the Multi-Complex of Ukraine\u2019s only centre for study and reproduction of rare species of tortoises, particularly, African spurred tortoises, Central Asian tortoises, red-footed tortoises and radiated tortoises. In addition to the scientific and nature conservation goals, the project will be aimed at the development of animal-assisted therapy or children with special needs.<\/p>\n
\u201cFeldman Ecopark\u2019s team has already accumulated successful experience in African spurred tortoise breeding in captivity. Here, thanks to a hard work of the workers and a priceless assistance of Kharkiv biologists, four kids of one of the largest land reptile species were born last winter for the first time in Ukraine. They are growing up now successfully, while there is a new laying of five eggs in the incubator,\u201d WOFARR\u2019s vice president, the head of the science and monitoring department in Feldman Ecopark Andrii Hapchenko told. \u201cWe hope to develop this success and to establish a Tortoise Farm under the support of domestic academic centres in order to deal with the study and reproduction of not only the African spurred tortoises, but also the other species, especially the radiated tortoises. It is a very rare, critically endangered species, and there are its representatives (a couple which is able to reproduce) in the animal collection of Feldman Ecopark.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to Andrii Hapchenko, rare tortoise breeding in captivity favours the prevention of poaching and rare animals smuggling in addition to the solution of biodiversity preservation issue by way of creation of reserve populations.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany zoos and other animal collections are proud of their large tortoises, as these animals are also a sign of prestige. They are very much in demand, as they attract visitors, let alone their significance for science and specific education. It is possible to meet this demand with the help of artificial reproduction without uncivilized capture of the animals in their areas of habitation,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n
The expert emphasized that the Tortoise Farm project has not only the nature conservation aspect, but also a social and humanitarian one. It is planned to use the tortoises reared within its framework for the development of testudo-therapy for children with special needs. It is a type of animal-assisted therapy, which is successfully applied in the Feldman Ecopark Centre for Psychosocial Rehabilitation.<\/p>\n
It should be noted that there are more than 10 species of tortoises and turtles in the animal collection of Feldman Ecopark with the total of 200 animals.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"