The European pond turtle is a freshwater turtle which lives naturally in France. Up until the 19th century, it occupied large territories throughout Europe, Russia and the North African coast.
Profile
Near Threatened (NT)
Lifestyle
The European pond turtle lives in quiet, sunny freshwater wetlands, such as marshes, lakes, ditches, slow-moving rivers and canals, and it can also live in streams as in the Plaine des Maures (Var). It loves muddy bottoms and abundant aquatic vegetation which provide plenty of food and shelter. Its territory can cover almost 10 hectares of wetland. It actively seeks out floating tree trunks and low-hanging tamarisk branches on the river banks on which it can bask in the sunshine.
Distinctive features
The European pond turtle has webbed feet, a smooth, flat shell and a hydrodynamic shape which distinguishes it from land tortoises.
Anecdote
Today, it is in decline in all the areas it inhabits and its territory has shrunk. This decline has now made it an endangered species which must be protected. The protection of the European pond turtle must involve the preservation of wetlands.
Conservation programme: a National Action Plan (NAP) has been set up. In addition, the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle rears these turtles in captivity at the Haute-Touche Reserve to boost populations in the wild.
