Turtles and tortoises are amongst the oldest living animals on Ear With a history dating back over 200 million yea not surprising to see these anci creatures appear in different my and legends around the world.

Their unique shell,also known as a carapace, symbolizes protec while their long lifespan is oft associated with longevity and wi But behind the folklore lies a deeper tale of resilience and persistence.

In the modern world, they face difficult challenges.

Pollution, habitat loss, and poa make up the underlying threats to turtle and tortoise populatio Conservation is now more importa than ever to keep these essentia around to maintain the delicate they provide for their ecosystem In South Carolina, one conservat project is helping to tip the sc for one of the wildest tortoises Turtles and tortoises are both reptiles, and they may seem similar at fir but there are several significant differences between Turtles are aquatic creatures that spend most of their time in either in rivers, lakes, or the Their webbed feet, and in some cases flippers, allow them to swim and maneuver in the water with ease.

In contrast, tortoises are land-dwelling turt that inhabit dry, arid environme such as deserts and grasslands and have sturdy, elephant-like l that are adapted for walking on All tortoises are a type of turt but not all turtles are tortoise Turtles and tortoises are both o meaning that they lay eggs outside of th rather than giving birth to live They hatch with their shells already developed and while they they shed their specialized exterior plates called, “scutes.

both also serve a critical role in their environments.

As herbivores, tortoises help to maintain plant by consuming foliage and seeds.

Turtles, on the other hand, are a crucial part of aquatic ecosystems, feeding o animals and plants that help to a healthy balance of diverse wil However, theres one tortoise found in the Carolina sandhills that goes beyond helping its hab and it does so in one of the most fascinating w Contrary to its desert-like appe the sandhills ecosystem has a di array of plant and animal life.

One resident here, the gopher to has one of the dirtiest jobs.

The gopher tortoise gets its nam from its burrowing behavior.

In fact, the scientific name for the Gopher Tortoise is Gophe polyphemus, polyphemus meaning “cave dweller ”.

This species creates deep burrows in the sandy soils, which can be up to 40 feet long and 10 feet deep.

These burrows are used for shelter and for regulating body temperat as they provide a cool and stable environment in the ho climate.

A gopher tortoise uses its powerful front legs and sturdy nails to excavate its It will typically start by digging a sloped entrance tun which can be several feet deep.

From there, the tortoise will di a tunnel where it will spend up of its life, only emerging to forage for food bask in the sun, or to mate.

The gopher tortoise is considere a keystone species in its enviro meaning that its presence is cru for the survival of many other s in the same habitat.

The burrows created by the gophe tortoise provide shelter for ove 350 different species, including lizards, and other small animals that desperately count on the to burrow for survival.

The sandhills, like many areas, have been subjected to significant habitat loss over century.

Historically, the longleaf pine forests of the sandhills were he harvested for their timber, and much of the cleared land was for agriculture.

In addition to the loss of fores the Sandhills region has also been impacted by fragmentation.

Habitat fragmentation occurs when large, continuous areas of are broken up into smaller, isolated patches.

When habitats are fragmented, species are often unable to move between patches, which can result in decreased genetic diversity and alter the ecosystems balanc For this reason, many species of and animals, like the gopher tortoise, are considered threatened or endangered.

Since 2006, a conservation partnership between the Savannah River Ecolo Laboratory, the Longleaf Allianc and theSouth Carolina Department of Natural Resources a commendable effort aimed at re the gopher tortoise population in the sandhills ecosystem.

In the beginning, the team started with around 50 sourced from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Wildlife rehabili clinics from around the state.

These 50 were introduced to a site containing only eight adult tortoises.

The project's primary objective is to build a self-sustaining go tortoise population with waif tortoises, or tortoise with no known origin or home, but to do that, released tortois must first establish site fideli to ensure they dont leave the p This process involves several co to successfully complete.

First, a pen is constructed arou a large plot of land ideal for the tortoises growth and well-being.

This provides an area that is sa for the tortoises to feed , soci with other gopher tortoises and more easily integrate into t colony.

Then, cohorts of hatchlings, juveniles, and adults are introd to the enclosure.

To help newcomers, starter burrows are painstakingl dug by hand giving tortoises multiple options and places to h until they get settled and choos where to begin the strenuous wor of creating a suitable home.

Once a pen reaches capacity, the pen is kept in place for at year, after which research shows that they are now far more likel to stay and integrate into the p Once the pen is removed, the tortoises are free to roam the entire property.

Each tortoise is identified by a series of numbers or markings made on their scutes giving scientists a way to monit individuals and collect useful d In the hot summer months, the dedicated team search the pens to collect somet Tortoise eggs.

Between May and July, eggs are d in nests located at the burrows entrance.

Ah-hah!

They found one!

A clutch will typically consist to nine eggs.

The team is careful not to roll or jostle them because the embryo can easily be disturbed and not survive.

A quick and painless pencil mark will help ensure they remain upr From here, the eggs will be tran to the University of Georgias Savannah River Ecology Lab to be incubated and hatched.

so the process can start over ag Because of the novelty of the id doubts were understandably raise that a project like this could e but since its inception, 17 pens 380 tortoises have been given a to play their vital role within the environment.

This teams success thus far has shown that it can i function and serve as a model fo conservation efforts, keeping the gopher tortoise wild years to come.