05 Aug Turtles with transmitters will be released into Nida
This month, the first European pond turtles are likely to be released into the wild. This is one of the stages of restoring the former natural habitat of the Nida River. The project has been run for several years by the Complex of Świętokrzyskie and Nadnidziański Landscape Parks.
First, the quality of the water bodies in the river delta was improved, for example by dredging and cutting back the aquatic vegetation overgrowing the oxbow lakes. Later, the restoration of rare species began.
The Nida Delta has been enriched with great crested newts, clams and amphibians very rare in our country – i.e. toads, as well as pond turtles – will also find their way into the river. In December last year, 50 young turtles from Polesie National Park were brought to the park complex.
Dariusz Wiech, who looks after the animals, says they are growing very quickly and it is likely that several of the largest will be reintroduced to nature in August.
“We need to select those that are suitable for release. They will be fitted with radio transmitters beforehand so that we know where they are and what is happening to them. It is known that turtles spend a lot of time underwater, hence the need to select suitable devices. The battery must last at least six months,” informs Dariusz Wiech.
In the coming months, another 100 pond turtles will be added to the park complex.
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