[Animals] Catalonia collects 3,590 Florida tortoises, an invasive species from the United States, in one year

[Draeno]

 

Catalonia collected a total of 3,590 Florida tortoises (Trachemys scripta), an invasive species from the United States, during the year 2022, as reported on Tuesday by the Department of Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda of the Generalitat.

This is a "record figure" collected in the "Memory of actions on invasive species 2021-2022", which Climate Action prepares every two years and compiles information on the main actions to combat invasive species.

The Florida tortoise "arrived in Europe through its commercialization as a domestic animal" and in Catalonia "it is widely distributed throughout the territory." And, according to the 'conselleria', the main problem associated with the presence of Florida tortoises is the competition and displacement of native species.

More about the species
The Florida tortoise (Trachemys scripta) is a medium to large (20-60 centimeters) animal, with a prominent red, orange, or yellow spot on each side of the head. It is originally distributed throughout the United States (from southeast Virginia to northern Florida, and west to Kansas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico), Central America, and South America as far as Brazil.

Introduced due to the trade in exotic animals, in recent years, before the ban, some 250,000 pups have been sold in Catalonia per year. Between 1989 and 1997 there was an export from the United States of more than 52 million copies, most of them to Europe.

danger
The Florida tortoise falls within the group of the 100 most harmful invasive alien species. The main problem associated with this animal is the competition and displacement of native species due to their aggressiveness and more varied diet. Likewise, it alters the structure of the vegetation, transmits diseases and parasites to native turtles and other species and can be carriers of salmonella.

 

https://www.elperiodico.com/es/sociedad/20230509/catalunya-tres-mil-tortuga-florida-especie-invasora-eeuu-87119615