Description
RESET — REStoring coastal EcosysTems in Tahiti: tackling the invasive Trachemys scripta to restore the natural ecosystems of river mouths and coastal areas, and so preserve native biodiversity.
The red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans), introduced to Tahiti in the 1970s as a pet and gradually released into the wild, is an invasive species and a major threat to local biodiversity. By competing with native species and adding trophic pressure, it disrupts freshwater ecosystems and shifts the make-up of endemic plant communities.
Te mana o te moana, which specialises in caring for sick or injured sea turtles in French Polynesia, receives a growing number of reports of red-eared sliders seen at the mouths of Tahiti’s rivers. Yet no concrete solution has been put in place to manage these animals, which keep multiplying unchecked at the expense of local biodiversity.
The project therefore aims to slow the spread of this invasive species and restore the health of Tahiti’s coastal ecosystems, while creating a sanctuary to house the animals captured.
Species profile
| Latin name | Trachemys scripta elegans |
|---|---|
| Origin | Southern United States |
| Average lifespan | 30 years |
| Max size / weight | Size: 30 cm — Weight: 2.5 kg |
| Distinctive feature | Red patches at the temples |
| Clutches | 2 clutches a year — 5 to 20 eggs per clutch |
| Incubation | 60 to 80 days |
| Diet | Juvenile: carnivorous; adult: omnivorous |
Do you own or have you seen a red-eared slider?
Note the exact place where the turtle was seen and CALL 87 39 08 45.
Aim of the project
To carry out an in-depth two-year study assessing the impact of Trachemys scripta on Tahiti’s freshwater ecosystems, identify the worst-affected areas and put in place ecological restoration measures that fit.
- Identifying priority areas for intervention
- Designing and applying a management and capture protocol
- Reducing Trachemys scripta populations
- Ecological restoration of degraded river mouths
- Scientific monitoring and evaluation of results
- Raising awareness and involving local stakeholders
Key figures
Partners
This is an ambitious “research-conservation” partnership involving the French Office for Biodiversity (OFB) and Te mana o te moana.
The project is supported by several partners and funders: the Ministry for the Ecological Transition, the French Republic and the French Office for Biodiversity (OFB), the Mission Nature scheme, FDJ United, the Environment Department of French Polynesia and the InterContinental Tahiti Resort & Spa.
