CARE SHEET

TORTOISE FINGERPRINTING

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TORTOISE IDENTIFICATION

The identification of individual chelonia, and tortoises in particular has been a problem for a very long time.  Paint, varnish or blobs of epoxy resin glued onto the carapace or plastron either fades, gets rubbed off or harms the animals' health.
Field biologists and research works have used the system of notching, but as this carries the risk of infection and also interferes with the bony armour it is generally not accepted as satisfactory.  Another drawback is that natural damage through accidents can also produce notching.
The possibility of using the 'identichip' system was studied.  This is used for mammals and relies on a microchip being implanted under the skin of the animal, but implantation in chelonia is difficult and the scarcity of Identichip readers make the system in-operable on a worldwide basis.

HOW FINGERPRINTING CAME ABOUT

Each tortoise has a unique coloration and patterning on the plastron.  Even hatchlings from the same clutch of eggs were always slightly different.  Work was carried out on a lot of plastral photographs in several species and it was decided to make contact with the Cambridge based Conservation Research Group who pioneered work on a computer image system for identification of sea mammals.
A pilot scheme was successfully run and the British Chelonia Group (BCG) in conjunction with the Cambridge Research Group set up the 'BCG Tortoise Fingerprint Identification Register'.

HOW TORTOISE FINGERPRINTING WORKS

For the computer imaging system a good quality photograph (in duplicate) of the plastron is required.  The same two points on the mid-line suture line are then marked on the photograph as reference points for each and every tortoise.  This ensures that as each tortoise grows the pattern is still identifiable to the same reference points which are fixed in the relationship to the small steady annual growth.
Using the computer, the whole pattern of the plastron is then recorded rapidly and the code for the particular tortoise is digitised and stored.  Each tortoise will have a coded registration number allocated which will also be recorded.  As a back up the second photograph, as well as details of the species, sex, breeding records and the owners name and address are stored by the Registration Officer, so that visual comparison may be made if this becomes essential.
Notes may be added to this filed record on special identifying features known to the owner, such as damage to the carapace, limbs or other parts of the body.

HOW TORTOISE FINGERPRINTING CAN BE USEFUL

The fingerprinting register was set up with six main objects in view:

1. LOST TORTOISES: Should a tortoise escape, the person finding it will be able to identify the owner via the Registration     Officer and thus get it returned to the rightful owner.
2. STOLEN TORTOISES: Since the importation of Mediterranean tortoises was banned in 1984, there has been a     number of tortoises stolen.  Should a suspect stolen tortoise be offered for sale, the authorities will be able to submit a     photograph of the plastron and the Registration Officer will, by using this computer search system, be able to tell whether     this tortoise has been registered and by whom and whether it has been obtained legally.
    Registration using such a dynamic computer system will have a psychological advantage of acting as a theft deterrent.
3. AID WITH PROVISION OF LICENCES:  The Department of the Environment (DoE) will be able to have greater     control over the provision of licences for the sale of these and other endangered species of chelonia.  The BCG are willing     to offer their expertise to the DoE to assist with the sale and exchange of these chelonia.
4. ASSISTANCE TO HM CUSTOMS AND EXCISE:  It will be possible to prove or disprove whether the chelonian,     whose plastron photograph is submitted, is from home bred stock or whether it is from illegally imported (smuggled ) stock     and this should assist HM Customs & Excise.
5. SCIENTIFIC TOOL TO AID CAPTIVE BREEDING PROGRAMMES:  If the registration records of the female     and male as well as from all the hatchlings of a particular clutch are compared, it is expected that there will be certain     familial characteristics shown.  Using this then as a scientific tool it will be possible to help control chelonian captive     breeding programmes in the future.
6. ASSISTANCE TO RESEARCH PROJECTS:  The BCG and the Conservation Research Group envisage that     scientists worldwide who are studying chelonia will be able to use this system to assist in their research projects.

HOW MUCH DOES REGISTERING A TORTOISE COST?

The Conservation Research Group has made a very generous offer for both the registrations and searches and this has kept our initial outlay low which in turn has kept our charge to tortoise owners down.
The price to BCG members will be £4 per tortoise, with a £50 upper limit at the point of registration.  Any subsequent tortoises acquired after the date of initial registration will require the £4 fee again. Hatchlings are eligible for registration after 6 months of age.

To obtain a registration form send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to

Reproduced with kind permission of British Chelonia Group