If your holidays take you to France this year....why not pay a visit to the Tortoise Village?  In totally natural surroundings, at the foot of the Massif des Maures, the most endangered reptile in France, the Hermann's Tortoise, can be observed living its natural life.

Tortoises can be seen nesting; the nurseries have window panes installed, enabling visitors to have a unique view of both hatchlings and juveniles.  There is a clinic, where injured and sick tortoises are treated by a vet and nursed back to health. There is a laboratory with equipment for monitoring nests and eggs.  The centre is laid out as a natural park, the buildings are constructed of wood, blending in with the surroundings; the fencing between the pens is as unobtrusive as possible.

Not one animal has been taken from the wild, all the animals have been donated by their former owners and all are destined to be released in selected restocking zones, to help repopulate the Massif des Maures.

The TORTOISE VILLAGE is also an information and study centre, a meeting place for herpetologists and conservationists.  It boasts a diorama, a lecture theatre with audiovisual aids and has accommodation for visiting researchers and students.  This TORTOISE CONSERVATION CENTRE is the only one of its kind in the world.  If you have a chance, do go and see it and take a guided tour.  You will learn many things and at the same time will be helping to save the last terrestrial tortoises in France.  If you cannot visit the village in person but still would like to support the vital work of SOPTOM, you can either adopt and sponsor a Hermann's Tortoise (cost 15 UK pounds per tortoise) or you can become a supporter at a cost of 24 UK pounds a year, which entitles you to receive the SOPTOM magazine a few times a year.

ADDRESS OF THE VILLAGE des TORTUES/BP 24/ 83590 GONFARON tel: 94 78 2641. (10 km from Luc en Provence, 40 km from Toulon).  Open everyday from March till November, 9am 7pm.

For details of becoming a sponsor or supporter, please contct the British Chelonia Group at bcgonweb@rmplc.co.uk