Gopherus Polyphemus Receives Protection From State With Recent Land Acquisition
The Sansavilla Wildlife Management Area is home to a large population of native Georgia wildlife, including about 400 Gopherus polyphemus, the state reptile of Georgia. Almost 20,000 acres in size, the state of Georgia recently purchased the property in an effort to conserve the resident wildlife and natural resources which are abundant in the area. The project also entails removing commercially-propagated trees and replacing them with species that are beneficial to the tortoises. Managing the harmful effects of logging is also a crucial element of their conservation plan, since this severely damages vital habitat and pushes the tortoises out of their natural range. In addition to logging, coyote predation is another concern, and as the DNR continues to study these animals, they hope to be able to learn more about how best to prevent the species from reaching endangered status.
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Photo from Terry Dickson.
