Łódź. A man put his hand to their extinction. There is a chance that mud turtles will return

There is a chance that mud turtles will appear again in the Łódź Voivodeship. In the Zoological Garden in Łódź, a program of protection of this species is implemented and, as reported by the Regional Directorate of State Forests, the first young individuals appeared in the Special Wolier after winter hibernation.

According to Hanna Kolasińska-Bednarek, spokesman for the Regional Directorate of State Forests in Łódź, the Regional Protection Program for the Mud's Turtle Protection, he is implemented by Łódź foresters together with scientific partners and nature protection institutions and enters the next phase. – After winter hibernation, the first young mud turtles appeared in the farm of the municipal zoo in Łódź. This is a sign that the species, considered to be extinct in the Łódź Voivodeship, has a chance to return to the natural environment – says Kolasińska -Bednarek. – Sounds after winter hibernation, gradually gain strength and heat up in the sun. Now we will be waiting for 50 individuals imported from last autumn from the Poleski National Park on land – he tells.

Regional Protection Program for Mud turtle

The Mud Turtle Protection Program in the Łódź Voivodeship is a joint undertaking of the Regional Directorate of State Forests in Łódź, the Municipal Zoological Garden in Łódź, the University of Lodz, the Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection in Łódź and the Landscape Parks Complex of the Łódź Voivodeship. – Its purpose is to restore the mud turtle in the Łódź Voivodeship, where this species was once present, but drew as a result of draining wetlands, water pollution and human activity – describes the spokeswoman for the RDLP in Łódź.

He adds that the program covers the breeding of young turtles in conditions as close to natural, including in external breeding aviats, where they can safely grow up for the first three years. – In the first years of life, turtles that live in nature are particularly vulnerable to predators such as birds, mammals and predatory fish. Thanks to the controlled conditions, our released turtles will have a better chance of survival in the natural environment. The first reintroductions are planned in the spring of 2027, and the next in 2028 and 2029 – he concludes. As part of the project, three areas were selected in the Łódź Voivodeship, which meet the key requirements for the survival of the mud turtle. These are places with a large environmental capacity, complicated shoreline and rich aquatic vegetation, ensuring shelter for young individuals

Mud turtle

Mud turtle is the only native turtle species found in Poland. It is a potato species, inhabiting mainly wetlands, such as swamps, oxbow lakes and water reservoirs with a calm current. It is characterized by dark coloration: black and brown armor with small, yellowish spots, which in young individuals are more pronounced. Mud turtles are long -lived, they live several dozen, probably even a hundred years in natural conditions. They spend winter in a state of hibernation, burying in a mule at the bottom of water reservoirs. Probably in the mid -twentieth century this species performed in lowlands throughout the country, with it more numerous in the east – especially in strongly wet areas, e.g. in Polesie. The last 2 statements of individual turtles in the Łódź Voivodeship came from 1971-1990. Currently, it can be considered that this species no longer occurs in the Łódź Voivodeship. The marsh turtle has been under legal protection since 1935 and is in the Polish Red Book of Animals in the EN category – threatened with extinction. Protective activities such as reintroduction are crucial for its survival in Poland.