On Wednesday, July 15, ten European pond turtles (Emys orbicularis) were released into the wild at the Ruģeļi wetland in Daugavpils. The goal of this “turtle release” is to help restore the historical population of one of the rarest and most protected reptile species in Latvia, while strengthening the biodiversity of the Ruģeļi wetland.
The European pond turtle is a very rare and protected species. In the past, these turtles were found in Latvia, Estonia and even Denmark, but due to climate change and human activity, their distribution area has decreased, and populations have become small and fragmented. The survival of the turtles is threatened by the disappearance of suitable habitats, pollution, vehicles, invasive species and increasing human pressure.
The turtles released into the Ruģeļi wetland are descendants of the first female European pond turtle found in Daugavpils. Mihails Pupiņš, Doctor of Biology and Director of the Latgale Zoo, tells: “This female lived in the Latgale Zoo for 23 years and had offspring. Now we are giving back to nature more than we once took from it, and we are trying to restore the historical population in a place where turtles have lived before. We are not starting everything from scratch, but strengthening the population that already existed here”.
Turtles are prepared for life in the wild for several years. At first, they grow up in specially adapted and controlled conditions, but later they learn to swim, look for food, hide, avoid people and coexist with other members of their species.
“Releasing turtles into the wild is both a graduation and an exam. From now on, they will have to survive on their own, find food, and be able to avoid natural enemies. We are preparing them well for this moment, but from now on, everything depends on their ability to adapt to life in the wild,” Mihails Pupiņš says.
Regular monitoring of the territory and population will continue even after the turtles are released into the Ruģeļi wetland. Monitoring will be carried out using both visual observations and environmental DNA or eDNA methods. It is difficult to spot turtles in the wild, so the use of various research methods will allow to monitor whether they have settled and how the population is developing in the future.
“Ruģeļi wetland is one of three officially registered places in Latvia where European pond turtles live in a natural wetland. Therefore, this event is particularly important. We carry out monitoring every year and will continue to observe how the turtles settle here,” Pupiņš emphasizes.
The turtle release took place within the framework of a Latvian-Lithuanian cross-border cooperation project. The main goal of the project is to preserve and develop the biodiversity of urban wetlands in Daugavpils and Zarasai, implementing nature-based solutions and improving the ecological quality of wetlands.
Jolanta Ūzuliņa, International Project Manager of the Development Department of the Daugavpils City Government, explains: “One of the most important directions of the project is practical work in nature. In Ruģeļi, ponds were cleaned, in which invasive plants had proliferated widely and the environment had become unsuitable for local species. After the work was carried out, the territory has been prepared so that local plant and animal species can develop there again. The release of ten European pond turtles is an important next step”.
Before the restoration work began, the Ruģeļi ponds were significantly overgrown. Based on the recommendations of certified nature conservation experts and international scientists, the work was carried out according to a specially developed plan. The restored environment creates more suitable living conditions for pond turtles and other species associated with healthy wetlands.
The Ruģeļi wetlands are one of the most biologically valuable natural areas in Daugavpils. 16 species of amphibians and reptiles found in Latvia have been identified in the project area, which confirms the importance of this place in the preservation of rare and protected species.
The project also includes public awareness activities. “Wetlands are a unique environment in which many plant and animal species survive and develop. Therefore, it is important to explain to children, young people and adults why nature must be protected and preserved for future generations. An educational website will also be developed, where a specially trained AI tool will help provide information about wetlands and biodiversity,” Jolanta Ūzuliņa adds.
In parallel with the preservation of natural areas, other development projects are also being implemented in the Ruģeļi area. Over the past five years, the municipality has been purposefully improving the infrastructure of the neighbourhood and continuing the improvement of the area around the Ruģeļi reservoir.
Igors Prelatovs, Vice Chairperson of the Council of Daugavpils City Government, points out: “The Ruģeļi neighbourhood has been developing rapidly in recent years, and this is also appreciated by local residents. The area is being supplemented with sports and recreational infrastructure, including facilities for children. It is planned to complete the construction of roads and bicycle paths in the near future, but next year it is planned to create a spacious parking lot for visitors and tourists, as well as a public transport stop near the reservoir”.
At the same time, the municipality wants to maintain a balance between infrastructure development and protection of natural values. “The release of pond turtles into the Ruģeļi wetland shows that we can also take care of nature in the city and help preserve rare species. I am pleased that together with the project partners we can implement works that both develop the neighbourhood and preserve its natural wealth,” Prelatovs emphasizes.
The release of European pond turtles was implemented within the framework of the project “Joint nature-based preservation of climate change/humans-threatened urban LV-LT cross-border wetlands umbrella biodiversity by innovative solutions, reintroduction and joint management” or “UrbUmbrella” (No. LL-00232). The project activities are aimed at restoring wetlands affected by climate change and human activity, preserving biodiversity and promoting public awareness in the Daugavpils and Zarasai cross-border region.
More information about the project is available at https://latlit.eu/theprojects/urbumbrella/ and on the Daugavpils local government website https://www.daugavpils.lv/en/city/development-of-the-city/international-projects/urbumbrella
