This Giving Tuesday: Save Geometric Tortoises
South Africa: Land Purchase & Conservation Progress
- We are moving forward with the purchase of approximately 200 additional acres adjoining our reserve in the Western Cape, South Africa.
- The property contains over 120 acres of high-quality Geometric Tortoise habitat, already used by tortoises that move freely across the shared boundary between the two parcels.
Unique fynbos habitat of the Geometric Tortoise Preserve
Unique fynbos habitat of the Geometric Tortoise Preserve
Young Geometric Tortoise
Local preserve staff completing fence repairs, fire mitigation, and invasive plant removal
Tortoise scent detection dog handler, Esther Matthews, with her dogs Delta and Dash, who help locate tortoises on the preserve
Tortoise scent detection dog, Delta, with a Geometric Tortoise she located on the preserve
Unique fynbos habitat of the Geometric Tortoise Preserve
Unique fynbos habitat of the Geometric Tortoise Preserve
Young Geometric Tortoise
Local preserve staff completing fence repairs, fire mitigation, and invasive plant removal
Tortoise scent detection dog handler, Esther Matthews, with her dogs Delta and Dash, who help locate tortoises on the preserve
Tortoise scent detection dog, Delta, with a Geometric Tortoise she located on the preserve
About this Land
- The few remaining parcels of Geometric Tortoise habitat are heavily fragmented, meaning every acre of expanded habitat is crucial for this species.
- This land acquisition secures habitat known to be actively used by the resident Geometric Tortoise population and strengthens a vital movement corridor within the largest remaining stronghold for the species.
- The property will become the reserve’s new operational base—providing on-site staff housing, secure storage, and improved land-management and fire-response capacity.
- The addition also carries water rights from a nearby reservoir supporting future conservation infrastructure.
Current Initiatives
- The newly acquired land includes invasive vegetation that requires immediate clearing to restore tortoise habitat—an important need beyond the land purchase cost.
- We are working closely with the Provincial Conservation Authority and the Mapula Foundation to implement a new range-wide conservation plan for the Geometric Tortoise.
- We are supporting a graduate researcher from Stellenbosch University, working in collaboration with the Endangered Wildlife Trust, to study tortoise diets using non-invasive fecal eDNA techniques. These results will guide future restoration plantings and help expand natural food availability within the reserve.
- Our partners at the Mapula Trust are generously donating an additional 25 acres of habitat. Once subdivision is complete, this parcel will expand the reserve along its southwestern boundary.
We Need Your Help to Purchase this Land
- Double your impact! Every donation until the end of 2025 will be matched by a generous donor.
It is not just about the Geometric Tortoise, our expanded preserve will provide more habitat for:
Black Harrier (Circus maurus) IUCN Endangered
Angulate Tortoise (Chersina angulata)
Leopard Tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis)
Parrot-beaked Tortoise (Homopus areolatus)
South African Helmeted Turtle (Pelomedusa galeata)
Black Harrier (Circus maurus) IUCN Endangered
Angulate Tortoise (Chersina angulata)
Leopard Tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis)
Parrot-beaked Tortoise (Homopus areolatus)
South African Helmeted Turtle (Pelomedusa galeata)
