31/08/2024
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𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗹𝘆, 𝘄𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗡𝗢 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗗𝗦 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗼 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗼𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 - 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗥𝗨𝗧𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬 - 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗼𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗕𝗘𝗬𝗢𝗡𝗗 𝗕𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗘𝗙.
We have recently found this beaked Cape tortoise (a tiny species of tortoise of the Homopus genus) also known as the parrot - beaked tortoise, common padloper in the Mossel Bay area with its shell painted by an unknown person which is extremely dangerous for the tortoise.
Wildlife Crime Information Network WCIN is really concern over how many tortoises are illegally remove from the wild in the Western Cape and illegally kept as pets, sometimes chained up in people’s yards, often deprived of water, food and freedom. Tortoises may seem like a hassle-free, cute pet, but keeping tortoises without a permit is not only illegal, but could be detrimental to the tortoises well-being and when you remove them from the wild, you can put an entire population at risk.
Join the 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗧𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗼𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 initiative
The 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗧𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗼𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 initiative is all about changing the fate of captive tortoises and return them to the wild, making sure they have an happy ending. The long term goal of this initiative is to restore tortoise populations in the Western Cape.
𝗧𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗼𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗹𝗮𝘄 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮
Tortoises may not be held in captivity, collected, sold, imported, exported or removed from their specific habitat. It is illegal under the Nature Conservation Ordination Act (Ordinance number 19 of 1974). The keeping of wild animals requires you to have a permit in accordance with the Western Cape Nature Conservation Laws.
𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲
We asked that the public do not subject these wild creatures to captivity and if you have a unwanted tortoise or suspect or know of someone illegally owning, collecting or selling tortoises, please whatsapp or call WCIN on 079 643 9556 or email [email protected] (𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹). You can also contact CapeNature or your local SPCA.
The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it. We all have the power to do something and we believe by working together, raising awareness and taking hands we can make a difference to protect and save our wildlife - 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗡𝗢 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗼𝗺
