Incidence of injuries and mortality in the leopard tortoise, Geochelone pardalis, in northern Tanzania

Abstract

Observations were made of injuries and mortality in the leopard tortoise (Geochelone pardalis) in northern Tanzania between October 1993 and June 1996. Tortoise injuries were more frequent at unprotected (15.3%) than at protected sites (4.7%). Fire was the most frequent cause, accounting for 44.0% of the injuries. Of the animals encountered, 12.9% were found dead. Dead animals were encountered more frequently at protected (25.4%) than at unprotected sites (8.3%). Carapace injuries (6.8%) and road kills (5.1%) were the only causes of mortality identified. Mortality was higher in adults (13.9%) than in immature animals (5.5%), and in females (13.9%) than in males (6.4%). Mortality was more frequent at the Arusha Region (46.8%) than at the Mara Region sites (7.6%).


Tanzania Journal of Science Volume 27 (2001), pp. 101-106