November 11, 2009
Gopher Tortoises Relocated
The HSUS and Developer Move Animals from Development Site to Nature Preserve
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Humane Society of the United States, Nokuse Plantation and Southern Development Corporation have relocated about 150 threatened gopher tortoises from a 200-acre development site in Jacksonville, Fla. The tortoises were moved from the Highlands Chase subdivision site to a permanent home at Nokuse Plantation, a nonprofit conservation wilderness in Walton County.
Until 2007, the state did not require the relocation or removal of gopher tortoises prior to construction. The state's "incidental take" permit program allowed the destruction of more than 100,000 imperiled gopher tortoises. The tortoises were often buried alive, causing a slow and inhumane death for the animals.
Although developers with grandfathered incidental take permits are still not required by law to relocate tortoises, Jacksonville-based Southern Development Corporation took steps to ensure the safe removal of tortoises from the Highlands Chase site before construction.
"The Humane Society of the United States applauds Southern Development Corporation and its partners for acting to save the tortoises who were living on this site," said Jennifer Hobgood, The HSUS' Florida state director. "We hope that other developers will follow Southern Development Corporation's lead and humanely relocate the other tortoises whose homes are threatened by construction projects."
With assistance from donations and a grant from The Folke H. Peterson Foundation, The HSUS helped to fund the project and transport tortoises to Nokuse Plantation. Monitoring and assessing the tortoises after the relocation efforts will provide crucial information for future projects.
"From the outset, we wanted to relocate these tortoises," said George Sayar, president of Southern Development Corporation, "so we were grateful for the assistance from Nokuse Plantation and The Humane Society of the United States that allowed us to make it happen."
"We are very excited to receive the tortoises from the Highlands Chase site and commend Southern Development Corporation and The HSUS for working with us to save these animals," said Matthew J. Aresco, director of Nokuse Plantation. "We will closely monitor the tortoises to ensure they acclimate well to their new home and will specifically manage their habitat so they will eventually be part of the breeding population."
Additional grant funds may be available for developments with grandfathered gopher tortoise incidental take permits. Developers who wish to collaborate with The HSUS to relocate tortoises are encouraged to contact The HSUS' Southeast Regional Office at (850) 386-3435.
Facts:
- On Sept. 9, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that the agency will conduct a status review to determine if the gopher tortoise's Eastern population warrants federal protection as a threatened species. The western population, from the Tombigbee and Mobile Rivers in Alabama west to southeastern Louisiana, has been listed as a federally threatened species since 1987.
- At its December 2007 meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted to raise the gopher tortoise's protected status in Florida to "threatened."
- In June 2007, FWC adopted a proposal to end the controversial gopher tortoise incidental take permit program that resulted in gopher tortoises buried alive on development sites. However, FWC grandfathered all permits applied for before July 31, 2007, which have no expiration date.
- The HSUS, which has 750,000 supporters in Florida, continues to assist local volunteer groups and developers to relocate hundreds of tortoises off construction sites, and also has established a special gopher tortoise rescue fund.
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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization — backed by 11 million Americans, or one of every 28. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty — On the web at humanesociety.org.
Nokuse Plantation is a 50,000-acre nature preserve in the Florida Panhandle established for the purpose of conserving the region's rich biodiversity in perpetuity. On the web at nokuse.org.
Southern Development Corporation is one of North Florida's most successful site work and heavy highway and civil construction companies with extensive experience in both the residential and commercial sectors.