In the framework of the European LIFE Potamo Fauna "Conservation of river fauna of European interest in the Natura 2000 network of basins Ter and Muga" during May 6^th  a reinforcement activity of European Pond Turtle (Emys orbicularis) of River Ter was conducted, releasing several specimens bred in captivity in the area of ​​Hortes Santa Eugènia in Girona. The ceremony was attended by a group of 20 students of 1st ESO Institute of Santa Eugènia who are studying vertebrates and had previously made a visit to the Centre de Reproducció de Tortugues de l’Albera (CRT) in Garriguella.

The production of juvenile European Pond Turtles was carried out at the same CRT center of the Association of Friends of the Trtuga de l’Albera. Until the completion of the project in 2017, is expected to release at least 150 individuals of the River Ter, Natura 2000 network banks of Lower Ter (ES5120011). The lower basin of the River Ter is one of the last enclaves of the European Pond Turtle in Catalonia. However, the strong decline observed over the past decades of the species has led to a precarious situation that it suggests a spontaneous recovery of the residual population that currently holds the fragments LIC banks of the Lower Ter. Through this project is expected to achieve the establishment of two new stable population of European Pond Turtle.

With the release this May and some other already done during this spring, the space has been strengthened with 70 new individuals. All were released between Anglès and Girona upstream Ter. Once they are released, they will be tracked, at least weekly, since all turtles are marked with a subcutaneous chip for easy identification and individual long-term monitoring. Also, 17 of the individuas released, will be tracked through techniques that allow radiotraking to know their habitat and survival.

As it was commented previously, this winter, with the aim of creating a suitable habitat for European Pond Turtles and other species of herpetofauna of European interest 12 ephemeral ponds have been created, a king of Mediterranean temporary ponds, upstream Girona. This type of habitat is gradually disappearing by progressive consolidation into a single river channel or river arm increasingly narrow and mostly running water habitat.

LIFE Potamo Fauna, a part of the European Pond Turtle preserves other endangered species as long the Naiad Unio Elongatulus, the White-clawed Crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes), Mediterranean Barbel (Barbus meridionalis), the Desmoulin's Wnorl Snail and Narrow-mouthed Wnorl Snail (Vertigo moulinsiana and Vertigo angustior) and also the Mediterranena Turtles (Mauremys leprosa) and various amphibians. It also fights against various alien invasive species and conducts awareness campaigns and works on wildlife endangered river.

The whole project has a budget of 1,900,262 euros, 50% funded by the European Union. Over the four-year (2014-2017) is planning to invest 124,761 euros (6,6% of the budget) in stocks recovery European Pond Turtle populations of the Natura 2000 network of Girona.

LIFE Potamo Fauna executed and coordinated by the Consorci de l’Estany, with the Consorci del Ter, the Departament d’Agricultura, Ramaderia, Pesca, Alimentació i Medi Natural, Forestal Catalana, Amics de la Tortuga de l’Albera and the Universitat del País Basc, with economic help of Diputació de Girona, Ajuntament de Banyoles, Ajuntament de Porqueres, the Consorci Esportiu de l’Estany de Banyoles and Aigües de Banyoles.