| Hermans Tortoise |
| Wild Mallorca |
 The Testudo hermanni, or Herman's Tortoise is a medium-sized tortoise. It has a shell up to 27 cm long in the females, which, in fact are larger than the males. They are of a yellow and black colouring. These wonderful, slow moving creatures live wild on the islands of Mallorca and Menorca and are scattered around throughout, seemingly without any preference to terrain, although they are not to be found on the Tramuntana mountain range, or, due to urban pressures, they are seldom found around the cities or built up areas either in Mallorca or Menorca Their habitats are hills, slopes and dunes within the natural Mediterranean vegetation of pine trees, wild olive trees and mastic trees. They feed primarily on leaves and fruit and sometimes on invertebrates. The tortoise does not relish to cold and although very active during the months of spring, summer and the beginning of autum, when the temperature begins to drop they sort out somewhere to hibernate during the cold winter months. Another species of tortoise also lives on the Balearic Islands. The Mediterranean spur-thighed tortoise, very similar to the Hermann’s tortoise, Testudo graeca, is however, darker and not as widespread. On Mallorca they are found exclusively in an area measuring around 100 km2 in Calvià, on the western part of the island. Unfortunately they are regarded as extinct on Formentera, despite information about the possible existence of a remaining group. There are many threats for turtles and tortoises, wherever their habitats are, such as: forest fires, urbanisation, pesticides, animals that prey on their eggs and offspring and more. It is also unfortunate that, because of their gentle and appealing natures they were caught and sold as pets where they could not breed. It is now illegal to catch them, as they are a protected species included in the National Catalogue of Endangered Species. The Environmental Council of the government of the Balearic Islands has held a number of campaigns in conjunction with the Son Reus Animal Protection Municipal Health Centre and the Natura Parc centre to collect as many captive tortoises and turtles and reintroduce them back into their natural environment. Since the late 1980s, around 1,000 turtles and tortoises have been released, mainly in the Llevant and Mondragó natural parks. Populations damaged by forest fires are also monitored. I have managed to find a video of the Hermans Tortoise in Menorca. Please remember, should come across them whilst in Mallorca it is an offence to take them from their habitat. They roam wild on the island and whilst I know that the majority are in the areas mentioned above they do appear now and then around many of the park areas of Mallorca. In Calvia, and up in Son Font they have been seen at the side of the road, so please be aware that they are protected. If you consider that they are in danger of being run over then please pick them up and direct them away from the roadside. |
