An appeal for shell-ter for endangered tortoise eggs has seen Forth Valley College’s Science Department come to the rescue and create a pop-up incubator at the Falkirk Campus.
Fixit Team Member Alex Blair and his wife Carol own a breeding pair of Hermann’s tortoises which are on the verge of needing conservation action in the wild. They recently produced a clutch of nine eggs and they realised they needed an incubator to ensure that some of them would hatch.
The Science Team were only too happy to help and offered to set up an incubator and help them hatch, while at the same time allowing staff and students – particularly those with an interest in biology – to observe and study the new tenants!
Alex said: “I told my colleague Derek a few months ago that my tortoise had laid eggs and he said that he would like a tortoise, so if they ever laid eggs again could he possibly have one.
“Then around six weeks ago my Hermes (another name for Hermann’s) tortoise laid nine eggs, and I asked the advice of the Science Department where we spoke to Tracy and Lindsay and they said that they have an incubator available if we would like to use it.
“I brought the eggs in, and they seemed to have stirred up a lot of interest with staff and pupils alike. This led to them wanting to meet the parents, so I spoke to my wife Carol, and she agreed to bring them in. The tortoises came in and there were loads of interest again and lots of students and staff came into the science room where the eggs are being kept, and everyone who came could hold and take photos if they liked.
“It was a big success and my wife thoroughly enjoyed showing off the tortoises and the staff really enjoyed meeting them, even although they left a few deposits for us, namely me, to clean up!”
Science Technician Tracy Cowley, said: “We were definitely happy to help. We had to do some emergency research on how to look after tortoise eggs after Alex turned up with the eggs in his pockets! We set up one of the incubators in the lab at the right temperature and humidity. All the Techs and Estates staff help with keeping the humidity high as we have to manually keep the water levels high. We’re all totally invested in their welfare now.
“We have nine eggs that we are currently incubating in one of the labs. We reckon that possibly five or six of the eggs are currently viable, as we’ve shone a light in to them and can see embryos. The tortoises are Hermann’s tortoises which are on the verge of needing conservation, so we’re doing our bit for the species and ensuring the eggs are kept at the right humidity.
“Alex’s colleague Derek has said he will take two of the babies, but we are not sure about the rest yet. They should be due to hatch just before Christmas, so it will be all hands on deck around then. We all think they’re pretty cool.”
