This 2014 under the LIFE project Potamo Fauna "Conservation of river fauna of Community interest in the Natura 2000 network sites of the Ter, Fluvià and Muga river basins" has carried out a campaign to capture exotic turtles in the river Ter and Banyoles Lake. In total, 90 individuals were captured, of 5 species or taxons -that are different varieties within the same species-. Specifically, were caught up to 64 Red-eared or Florida Turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans), 12 the variety of yellow belly (T. s. scripta), 11 hybrids between these two, a Pseudemys sp., A Pseydemys nelsoni and Chrysemis picta belli.

To captures them between March and November 2014, 21 traps -sunshine platform types-, were used (11 in Ter River and 10 in Banyoles Lake -3 in Can Morgat-). In the River Ter, the 11 traps were distributed as follows: 3-5 in Fontajau, 3 a Pedret and 3-5 in Sobraniques. These platform sunshine traps were actively working with some interruptions due to changes in location or during the river Ter flooding in late September. Moreover, 10 metal handles traps were also used in Banyoles Lake in October.

Of the 90 exotic turtles captured, 71 have been in the river Ter (most, 54, in the Fontajau) and 19 in Banyoles Lake. It’s worthy to comment that in Banyoles Lake between 2010 and 2013 had been carried out campaigns to control exotic species, capturing nearly 600. Therefore, it appears that in this area there has been a significant decrease in presence of these species.

Turtles are quite aggressive exotic to people so as to manipulate the other wildlife, including native turtles. It has been proved that they are very effective competing for space (territory) and can also transmit diseases to humans, such as salmonella disease. Noted that these items are always located in urban areas, and therefore making the releases come from people who have them as pets at home.
With the same traps that capture exotic species can capture local individuals who are measured and marked, if not endangered. This is also used to monitor the status of natural populations. This year we have captured 36 Pond Turtles (Emys orbicularis), all in Banyoles Lake and 34 Iberian Pont Turtles (Mauremys leprosa), 30 in the river Ter and 4 in Banyoles. The pond turtles captured come from Estany Project, and were released between 2010 and 2013, what shows a very prominent growth.

For 2015 is expected to release Pond Turtles in the river Ter that have been bred in captivity in the breeding center in Albera (CRT), in the town of Garriguella. We will also continue to campaign captures of both exotic turtles in the river Ter as in Banyoles Lake. Next year is expected to catch a few on Lake Banyoles and to maintain or increase the number of captured turtles in the river Ter because there is still a large population of exotic turtles and more efforts will be done”.

LIFE Potamo Fauna has an overall budget of 1.9 billion euros, 50% funded by the European Union. Between 2014 and 2017 acted in 11 Natura 2000 areas in the province of Girona recovering and preserving long-term several endangered species. Carried out reinforcements population and improvements of habitats of species as the mollusks, fish, amphibians and turtles. The project has enabled us to consolidate a team of 24 people for four years.

The Consorci de l’Estany acts as a coordinating beneficiary and the associated beneficiaries are Consorci del Ter, Generalitat de Catalunya trought the Departament d’Agricultura, Ramaderia, Pesca, Alimentació i Medi Natural, Forestal Catalana SA, the Amics de la Tortuga de l’Albera Association, and the País Vasco-Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea. Act as co-financers councils of Porqueres and Banyoles, Aigües de Banyoles, SAU and the Consorci Esportiu de l’Estany de Banyoles.