The Desert Tortoise (Gopherus aggasizzii) is listed as a federally protected, threatened species. This species is protected by state and federal endangered species acts-yet threats to its survival are numerous.
Destruction of tortoise-friendly habitat due to military expansion into areas of designated critical habitat, off-roading in non-designated areas, pollution, livestock grazing, dumping, wild land fires, and razing of land/construction have all played a negative (and often catastrophic) toll on these desert denizens-who have called the Mojave Desert their home for many thousands of years.
Enforcement of existing laws to protect desert tortoises and sensitive habitats are often ignored and are seldom enforced.
Most recently, the Congressionally approved translocation (moving) of 760 wild, federally protected desert tortoises-from their homes at Fort Irwin, California, to less suitable habitat on public lands in March, 2008 has resulted in numerous injuries and deaths. The tortoises were released during cold weather and were unable to dig burrows for protection - areas of release were far less suitable habitat for their foraging and shelter needs, and is an area documented to have an ill tortoise population.
The Department of Defense, (DOD) Bureau of Land Management (BLM), US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), State Fish and Game Departments, and our elected officials must act immediately to halt further destruction of this species through "translocation" as well as the critical (and legally protected) habitats in which they survive.
The Department of Defense, nor any agency should be immune to the laws created to protect sensitive-and sometimes endangered species of plants and animals.
Please visit the Desert Tortoise Survival Alliance web pages for more information, or to join us as an Alliance organization.
The Desert Tortoise (Gopherus aggasizzii) is listed as a federally protected, threatened species. This species is protected by state and federal endangered species acts-yet threats to its survival are numerous.
Destruction of tortoise-friendly habitat due to military expansion into areas of designated critical habitat, off-roading in non-designated areas, pollution, livestock grazing, dumping, wild land fires, and razing of land/construction have all played a negative (and often catastrophic) toll on these desert denizens-who have called the Mojave Desert their home for many thousands of years.
Enforcement of existing laws to protect desert tortoises and sensitive habitats are often ignored and are seldom enforced.
Most recently, the Congressionally approved translocation (moving) of 760 wild, federally protected desert tortoises-from their homes at Fort Irwin, California, to less suitable habitat on public lands in March, 2008 has resulted in numerous injuries and deaths. The tortoises were released during cold weather and were unable to dig burrows for protection - areas of release were far less suitable habitat for their foraging and shelter needs, and is an area documented to have an ill tortoise population.
The Department of Defense, (DOD) Bureau of Land Management (BLM), US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), State Fish and Game Departments, and our elected officials must act immediately to halt further destruction of this species through "translocation" as well as the critical (and legally protected) habitats in which they survive.
The Department of Defense, nor any agency should be immune to the laws created to protect sensitive-and sometimes endangered species of plants and animals.
Please visit the Desert Tortoise Survival Alliance web pages for more information, or to join us as an Alliance organization.
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