UPDATE ON THE SITUATION RECEIVED MARCH 2010
The situation at CARAPAX still remains complex and there have been many comments made about the situation which are unsubstantiated. This is the latest update we have received. The lease on the land was supposed to run for thirty-five years, but the local Italian landlord, the Comunità Montana demanded the cancellation of the lease and the return of the land after twenty years.
During the court case many allegations were made against CARAPAX on health grounds and safety issues, such as keeping dangerous animals without a licence (these were either animals placed at the site by the authorities or rescued for which licences had been applied). These have been mostly dismissed.
The issue of Salmonella transmission to people was raised and Salmonella is often present in Chelonia, but seldom causes disease; they can be symptomless carriers, but only a few strains of Salmonella are dangerous to humans (see www.britishcheloniagroup.org.uk/vetscorner/salmonellosis.htm ). In fact, the health issues surrounding the water supplies in the area were attributable to other causes unconnected to the CARAPAX site and the chelonians held there.
The Belgian RANA Foundation (Reptiles et Amphibians de la Nature) intends to move CARAPAX to a different location and Dr Ballasina, the project Leader, has confirmed he will start his work again elsewhere, taking all resident animals to the new locations and thus securing their ongoing care.
Apparently, it is intended to divide the work into three centres:
- The new CARAPAX will continue the original task and be a didactical and biological Mediterranean station in situ for study, breeding and reintroduction in the wild of tortoises (Testudo sp.), terrapins (Emys, Mauremys, Rafetus) and Sea turtles (Chelonia mydas, Caretta caretta) and White Storks.
- The rescue centre mainly for American fresh water turtles (Trachemys sp., Chrysemys sp., Graptemys sp.,Malaclemys sp., Pseudemys sp., Apalone sp., Chelydra serpentina, Macroclemys temminkii) will also be moved separately. A new turtle rescue centre will be created, being capable of hosting the 9000 animals of CARAPAX and plans are in hand.
- The tropical chelonian species, which were owned by RANA, were moved from the original CARAPAX site in Spring 2009. They have been placed in safe environments and are in the hands of various experts who take care of them. Eventually a new centre CITES centre will be set up for tropical species, probably in Belgium.
Splitting the site in this way will also reduce disease risks associated with chelonian rehabilitation.
The court proceedings are continuing. Further information will be published when it becomes available.
In the meantime monies from the 2009 Appeal remain in the BCG's accounts
On Behalf of the Committee of the British Chelonia Group
| Anne Rowberry | Henny Fenwick |
| Conservation Officer | Acting Chairman |
STATEMENT BY BOB LANGTON
BCG CONSERVATION OFFICER 1989 - 2008
I am making this statement because a letter I wrote to the Chairman concerning the BCG Red Eared Terrapin Rescue Project (CARAPAX) has been reproduced without the knowledge or consent of myself or the BCG. The letter is genuine but the reasons why I doubted 'the efficacy or practicality' of the plan to rescue the terrapins are not made clear because I had previously discussed these details with the Chairman. Quite simply in 2001 I doubted whether the BCG could muster the logistical support to rescue the terrapins from all over the UK and transport them to the Carapax Centre in Italy on a regular basis.
In the event I was proved wrong. Under the leadership of the Chairman and the Red Eared Terrapin sub committee they ran the scheme very successfully. Through their efforts very nearly one thousand terrapins were relocated successfully to the CARAPAX Centre saving many from death by abandonment or poor husbandry. In July 2003 I went my self to Italy and spent one and a half days with Donato Ballasina at the CARAPAX Centre and saw the conditions under which the terrapins were being kept. I had the opportunity to question Donato Ballasina at length about the Rescue Project which involved unwanted terrapins from a large part of Western Europe. It was at this point that I revised my opinion and gave the Project my whole hearted support as BCG members will already know from entries in the BCG Newsletter.
I am proud to have been part of the BCG Red Eared Terrapin Rescue Project even though I was a doubting Thomas at the outset.
Bob Langton
22 January 2010