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Reptile✓ Protected species

Land Tortoise

Testudo hermanni / Testudo graeca

What to do NOW

  1. 1Pick up gently without turning it upside down (stress from inversion can be lethal)
  2. 2Broken shell: emergency — cover the wounds with non-adhering damp gauze, urgent vet needed
  3. 3If found on a road: move it towards the side it was heading (not back)
  4. 4Keep in a cool, shaded place with a shallow bowl of water (it can drink and bathe)
  5. 5Contact CRAS or herpetological vet if injured

NEVER do this

  • Do not take home as a pet — illegal for wild species
  • Do not immerse in deep water (it can drown)
  • Do not move wild tortoises from their territory (home range)
  • Do not use common disinfectants on shell injuries

Important note

In May–June, tortoises move to reproduce and are frequently run over. A broken shell exposes the internal organs: it is a surgical emergency (shell surgery is possible and often effective). Keep wounds moist with saline solution and go to a vet urgently.

Legal protection

Testudo hermanni and Testudo graeca are protected by CITES (Annex A), Presidential Decree 357/1997, and Law 150/1992. Captive-bred individuals require certification (F10).

Also known as

  • tortoise
  • wild tortoise
  • Hermann's tortoise
  • spur-thighed tortoise
  • Greek tortoise

Similar animals

Full guide

Injured tortoise found on the road: what to do immediately

Shell cracked by a lawnmower, hit on the road, flipped over in the sun. A practical first aid guide for land tortoises — including the mistakes you must avoid.

Read the guide →

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