Pretoria zoo scientists receive award for important project
The hard work and dedication of two national zoological gardens of South Africa researchers is helping pave the way for rare and critically endangered baby pancake tortoises.
The pancake tortoise (Malacochersus tornieri) has been categorised as critically endangered but thanks to an incredible South African breeding project, there is hope.
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Chadane Pretorius and Kabelo Segodi, two national zoological gardens of South Africa researchers from Pretoria, have been working hard to ensure the success of their breeding project.
In 2022, their dedicated and intricate husbandry practices paid off as they welcomed four pancake tortoise hatchlings.
Though the species have very specific temperature, dietary and humidity needs, the zoo was able to provide the perfect environment for these hatchlings to grow and survive.
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The researchers recently received an award for these efforts from the Pan-African Association of Zoos and Aquaria (Paaza) and it is currently being displayed in the zoo's Reptile Park.
With the species being native to Tanzania and Kenya, the Pretoria Zoo feels it has an important part to play in the protection of this African species:
We are deeply honoured to receive the Paaza Conservation Award. We are so glad of this recognition of the outstanding contributions of Chadané Pretorius and Kabelo Segodi. The captive breeding of species such as the pancake tortoise is essential in helping to ensure the survival of these magnificent creatures in the face of habitat loss, poaching and other threats in their natural habitats.
Congratulations to Pretorius and Segodi and may there be many more happy pancake tortoise babies entering the world in the future!
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Main image courtesy of iStock/wrangel