Site fidelity and movement of Chelonoidis carbonaria (Spix, 1824) (Testudinidae) in cocoa plantations in southeastern Brazil/Estabelecimento e movimentação de Chelonoidis carbonaria (Spix, 1824) (Testudinidae) em áreas de plantação de cacau no sudeste do Brasil

• Published in: Brazilian journal of biology Vol. 74; no. 3; p. 135
• Main Authors: Borini, J F, Petrucci, B B, Krohling, W, Rossi, J L, Santos, M R D, Ferreira, P D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: São Carlos Instituto Internacional de Ecologia 01-08-2014
• Subjects: Behavior; Cocoa; Experiments; Herpes viruses; Mortality; Population; Quarantine; Reptiles & amphibians; Testudinidae
• ISSN: 1519-6984; 1678-4375

In this study, the authors evaluated the movement patterns of C. carbonaria originating from triage centres in areas of cocoa plantations and forest remnants to define their home range and dispersion. After 120 days of quarantine and acclimatisation, eight C. carbonaria adults were released and monitored via radio telemetry for 10 months. The radio transmitters of two individuals presented problems, and consequently, it was not possible to track these individuals. Five individuals remained in an area of 7.75 ha 10 months after release, avoiding contact with humans after the first three months. The greatest problems were the proximity of individuals to inhabited areas in the first three months after release, the death of two individuals, and the escape of one individual. After the experiment, the animals were sent back to the triage centre. The results suggest that a proportion of the animals in the triage centres are able to survive in natural conditions.