Visitor Centre Opening
On 10th September 2010 Gea Chelonia Foundation opened its Visitor Centre, established with the financial support of The Small Grants Program of the Global Environment Facility, project “Conservation of land tortoises and their habitats in the Eastern Eminska Mountains, through direct conservation measures, sustainable ecotourism development and popularization of the activities”.
James Buskirk: "Many of Bulgaria's leading field zoologists attended the inauguration along with members of the news media, regional government representatives and those of donor organizations, besides private donors and various guests."... read more
Hans Juergen Bidmon: "On the tenth of September 2010 the inauguration of the Bulgarian Centre for Tortoise Research and Conservation took place with the participation of the news media, representatives of various donor organisations, and various private donors and guests. My personal impression was..." read more
Photo Gallery
19.10.2009. NGO Fund through EEA Financial Mechanism to support GCF's project
On 01.11.2009 the Gea Chelonia Foundation launched the project "Eminska Mountain - a model for sustainable development and nature protection in the Central Black Sea coastal region" with the financial support of the NGO Fund through the EEA Financial Mechanism. The project covers Priority Area 1: Protecting the environment and stimulating sustainable development. Read more
30.09.2009 г. 24 hatchlings in the tortoise Centre
24 hatchlings - 15 Spur-thighed and 9 Spur-tailed tortoises hatched in the Centre in Banya village this autumn. Annually 20 - 30 newborns hatch in the Centre, depending on the number of males, females and the number of fertilized eggs. The centre has recorded a record hatchling rate in the autumn of 2008 because of the great number of adult tortoises housed during the rescue actions along the Black Sea coast during the summer.
11.09.2009 Jumbo-sized tortoises
Two "extra large" female Spur-thighed tortoises (Testudo graeca) were welcomed to the Centre. Their straight carapace lengths are 25 and 27 cm. respectively, and the larger one weighed 4kg. upon arrival. Both specimens had traveled over 200 km from the Wildlife Rescue and Breeding Centre in Stara Zagora. Previously they have been in captivity for more than 36 years. Their precise age cannot be determined, but they were reported to have been fully grown when taken from the wild in 1973.
24.07.2009. Gea Chelonia Foundation starts a new six-month project
GCF will start the project "Capacity building for biodiversity protection in Eminska Mountain" under "A place to live 2009" Program of the EkoObshtnost Foundation. The overall goal of the project is to halt biodiversity loss in Eminska Mountain through building up local capacity for its protection and management. Many activities are planned for assisting the local people to realize the economic benefits of a healthy biodiversity status: making favorable conditions for development of Eminska Mountain as an ecotourist destination, and broad promotion on the Internet. More direct measures include promotion by local tourist agencies; nature protection training of local young people to encourage a positive attitude and awareness of nature conservation; establishing multilateral partnerships among local societies, businesses, NGOs, environment-managing institutions, local and regional media, and private citizens. Read more
20.07.2009 A Visitor Centre initiated
GCF started building a Visitor Centre within the Tortoise Centre in Banya village, Nesebar Municipality. The initiative is financed by the Small Grants Programme of the Global Environment Facility. Read more
12.06.2009 Poachers caught with 153 tortoises
On 3 June 2009 Roma poachers were caught in a joint action of the Regional Police Department (Rakovski) and the Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Waters (Plovdiv) while trying to sell 153 tortoises of both species – Spur-thighed and Spur-tailed (Testudo graeca ibera and Testudo hermanni boettgeri) in the town of Rakovski, Plovdiv District. Under Bulgarian legislation the tortoises are included in Annex III of the Biological Diversity Act, and any collection, possession, sacrifice, or molestation thereof is subject to the Penal Code of the Republic of Bulgaria.
All 153 tortoises were first housed at the Green Balkans’ Wildlife Rescue Centre in the town of Stara Zagora to evaluate general health status and provide veterinary treatment if necessary. Experts from Gea Chelonia Foundation and Green Balkans’ Wildlife Rescue Center measured, weighed and marked all the specimens and prepared them for release back to the wild. The tortoises were released in a strictly monitored reserve near the town of Kardjali in southern Bulgaria near which they had been collected.
29.05.2009 Radio-tracking
During the active season of 2008 the GCF team carried out a series of tortoise rescue actions along the Black Sea Coast. The animals were relocated in newly set aside habitats in protected areas where they are subjects of ongoing periodic monitoring. In May 2009 the Foundation purchased radio tracking equipment, financed by the People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES). Radio telemetry will help define the adaptation success of the relocated tortoises. Read more
