Gopher tortoise setback

August 7, 2011, Sunday |

Print Edition

THE gopher tortoise deserves protection in several states in the southeastern US under the Endangered Species Act, but funding shortages could delay the listing for years, federal wildlife officials said recently.

There is sufficient scientific data to list the gopher tortoise as threatened in parts of Alabama, Georgia, Florida and South Carolina, said Cindy Dohner, the US Fish and Wildlife Service's regional director for the Southeast.

"But we do not have the resources to pursue the listing process at this time," she said during a conference call, noting the process can cost US$300,000 or more.

The gopher tortoise, which is sandy brown in color and can grow to up to 6.8 kilograms, will instead join a list of 251 other species designated as candidates for federal protection.

"There will be no land use changes for anyone as the result of this announcement," Dohner said. "The finding does not affect private or public landowners with new regulations."

It could be up to five years before the agency conducts studies and develops rules to give the tortoise federal protection in the Southeast, which could restrict how property owners use their land, officials said.

In the meantime, federal officials plan to work with private landowners on voluntary conservation efforts that could be partially funded by federal grants.

Animal Planet

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Gopher tortoise setback

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