BEST PRACTICES MANUAL FOR REPTILES PROTECTION

Transcription

Katarzyna Kurek
Janusz Holuk
Stanisław Bury
Michał Piotrowski
BEST PRACTICES MANUAL FOR
REPTILES PROTECTION
2014
CKPŚ, ul. Stawki 2, 20th floor, 00-193 Warszawa, www.ckps.lasy.gov.pl
www.lasy.gov.pl
tel.: +48 22 318 70 82; fax: + 48 22 318 70 98; e-mail: centrum@ckps.gov.pl
Introduction
Due to the climatic conditions which prevail in our country, reptiles, as cold-blooded
animals, are represented in Poland by only 9 species. The group of reptiles which occur and
procreate in our country includes 4 species of snakes: grass snake (zaskroniec zwyczajny)
Natrix natri, common European adder (żmija zygzakowata) Vipera berus, smooth snake
(gniewosz plamisty) Coronella austriaca and Aesculapian snake (wąż Eskulapa) Zamenis
longissiums), 3 species of lizards: sand lizard (jaszczurka zwinak,) Lacerta agilis, viviparous
lizard (jaszczurka żyworodna) Zootoca vivipara, legless lizard (bezoga jaszczurka) - blind
worm (padalec) Anguis fragilis and 1 species of turtle: European pond turtle (żółw błotny)
Emys orbicularis). Up to 1960s, the occurrence of European green lizard (jaszczurka zielona)
Lacerta viridis was also included in that list. However, nowadays it is enlisted in the Polish
Red Data Book of Animals as an extinct species, with EXP category. In Poland in 2009, one
individual of dice snake (zaskroniec rybołów) Natrix tessellata was observed. This
observation concerned a place 10 kilometers away from the position of the snake in the Czech
Republic discovered in the same year. However, this dice snake has uncertain status in our
country, as it was not confirmed that it reproduces in a newfound position. Additionally, there
is no certainty that the observations from the Czech Republic and Poland are not the result of
intentional transfer.
The process of introduction of alien species of reptiles to the natural environment has
been observed for years. Many of these species are released by man, and part of them
escaped from private breeding. However, the majority of exotic reptiles are not able to
survive the winter period in moderate climate conditions. Only one alien species spends
winter period in our country, that is Trachemys scripta, represented by all subspecies like e.g.
red-eared slider (żółw czerwonolicy) or river cooter (żółw zółtobrzuch). Recent reports
indicate that the species is commonly found in Poland. Due to the climate and this turtle
breeding phenology, it does not reproduce in our country. Turtles, both young and adults, are
released into rivers, ponds and lakes, as a result of which in some areas they form populous
groups. It happens that this alien species of turtle is released into the habitat of endangered
European pond turtle, where it competes for insolated space and can carry diseases and
parasites harmful for local herpetofauna.
In Poland, all native species of reptiles are strictly protected. Some of them, such as
common European viper, grass snake, sand lizard, viviparous lizard and blind worm occur
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throughout the country and can be conventionally considered as common species. However,
due to loss of habitat, as a result of human activity and mindless killing (this especially
applies to snakes), there are many blank spots on the maps of their occurrence. Due to their
habitat requirements and low ability to overcome barriers such as routes, vast areas of
agricultural monocultures or urban areas, reptiles are now one of the most vulnerable groups
of animals, not only in Poland but also worldwide. Evidence of that is the status of protection
of three rarest species of reptiles in this guide. European pond turtle, smooth snake and the
Aesculapian snake are critically endangered species and they are assigned to active and
zonal protection. The reason for this is their low abundance and deteriorating living
conditions.
This guide is dedicated to everyone interested in problems of the protection of
threatened and endangered species of reptiles in Poland. In spite of carrying out protection
activities, any initiative supporting their continuation and increasing public awareness is
extremely valuable. Each of us can contribute to the survival of these three species of reptiles
in our country by providing information on their occurrence, not releasing alien species to
their habitats (it is particularly important when it comes to the European pond turtle) or by
careful driving near places of their occurrence. We hope that this guide will help you
understand the problems and the need of protection of reptiles in general. Methods of
protection, scientific research and cooperation between various institutions and private
persons, which have been developed for many years, allow for an effective in its assumptions,
realization of procedures supporting living conditions of European pond turtle, Aesculapian
snake and smooth snake. We also hope that this guide will be useful for all enthusiasts who
want to carry out similar projects.
AUTHORS
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Table of contents
I. General information on selected species of reptiles
I.1 GENERAL INFORMATION ON EUROPEAN POND TURTLE
I.2 GENERAL INFORMATION ON AESCULAPIAN SNAKE
I.3 GENERAL INFORMATION ON SMOOTH SNAKE
II. Threats and protection methods
II.1 MAIN THREATS TO EUROPEAN POND TURTLE
II. 2. MAIN THREATS TO AESCULAPIAN SNAKE
II. 3. MAIN THREATS TO SMOOTH SNAKE
III Used and recommended methods of protection of European pond turtle, Aesculapian
snake and smooth snake
III. 1. LEGAL PROTECTION OF EUROPEAN POND TURTLE, AESCULAPIAN SNAKE
AND SMOOTH SNAKE
III. 2. ACTIVE PROTECTION OF EUROPEAN POND TURTLE
III. 3. ACTIVE PROTECTION OF AESCULAPIAN SNAKE
III.4 ACTIVE PROTECTION OF SMOOTH SNAKE
IV. Protective measures undertaken in Europe and Poland
IV. 1. PROTECTIVE MEASURES UNDERTAKEN TOWARDS EUROPEAN POND
TURTLE
IV. 2. PROTECTIVE MEASURES UNDERTAKEN TOWARDS AESCULAPIAN SNAKE
IV. 3. PROTECTIVE MEASURES UNDERTAKEN TOWARDS SMOOTH SNAKE
V. Description of the best practices
V.1. DESCRIPTION OF BEST PRACTICES FOR EUROPEAN POND TURTLE
V. 2. DESCRIPTION OF BEST PRACTICES FOR AESCULAPIAN SNAKE
V. 3. DESCRIPTION OF BEST PRACTICES FOR SMOOTH SNAKE
REFERENCES
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I. General information on selected species of reptiles
I.1 GENERAL INFORMATION ON EUROPEAN POND TURTLE
European pond turtle (Żółw błotny) Emys orbicularis (Fig. 1) is a reptile of the
Testudines turtles order, Emydidae freshwater turtle’s family and the Emys mud turtle genus.
In Poland typical subspecies - Emys orbicularis orbicularis (L.) occur, which however is
diversified into two distinct evolutionary lines - eastern and western. The geographical range
of both populations runs approximately along the borders of Vistula and Odra basins.
Fig. 1. Adult female European pond turtle, photo by J. Holuk
Distribution
In the past geographical range of European pond turtle covered almost all of Europe,
with the exception of the UK and the Scandinavian countries. Currently, the geographical
range
is
very
much
scattered.
Geographical
range
of
European
pond
turtle
in Europe has significantly shrunk due to habitat changes caused by human activity. In many
countries,
the
species
became
extinct.
Today,
it
still
can
be
found
in the Mediterranean Basin, the Balkans, Hungary, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia,
Germany and Poland. In our country, only in the area of Polesie there is still fairly large
population (populations) of the species, probably consisting of more than 1,500 adult
specimens and it is the biggest in this part of Europe. The situation in the rest of the country is
much different. While the Mazury Lake District population is estimated at 250-300
individuals, on the Plain of Radom there occur at least 100 individuals, on one of the posts in
the Lubusz area one may encounter approximately 100 individuals, but in the other areas there
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are just dozens, while sometimes several dozens, of individuals (Najbar 2012). Apart from
these posts the species can be found in large disperse, and it should be considered there as
extremely sparsely populous. In most of the cases there are just single, usually migrating or
old individuals.
Morphology
The body of the turtle is covered with oval, protective armor made of bone, covered
with horn shields, which consists of two parts - the dorsal called carapace and ventral called
plastron - connected together by a flexible bridge. Small shields also cover the skin on the
front and back legs and the tail. These animals have well-developed, very muscular and
slightly flattened limbs, with claws at the end. Turtle jaws are toothless. Instead of tooth they
have horny ridges. Approximate age of a young specimen can be determined by counting
annual growth rings, which are visible on horn shields. After reaching sexual maturity (18-20
years), growth tempo of an individual slows down, the rings become narrower, compact and
counting them is impossible. Turtles can reach an age of more than 100 years.
This species is characterized by sexual dimorphism and the shape of plastron is considered as
a feature that allows for identification of gender, which in adult female is almost flat, while in
males it is concave in the middle. An auxiliary feature is also the color of the iris. In females,
iris is yellow or brown with yellow spots, while in males it is orange-red or brown. Females
are generally larger and heavier (body length 16-21 cm, weight 1.5 kg) than males (length 1119 cm, weight 1 kg).
Habitat and food
European pond turtles lead a semiaquatic lifestyle. They prefer small, overgrowing
and shallow water reservoirs, standing waters or slow-moving currents where water quickly
warms up, oxbow lakes, forest swamps and extensively used ponds (Fig.2). Adult individuals
which are ousted from natural habitats, inhabit all encountered water reservoirs, which give
them a chance to get food and hibernation. In such an environment, usually there is no chance
of successful reproduction. European pond turtles usually select as their breeding sites light,
sandy soil covered with calcareous grasslands, with species such as grey hair-grass
(szczotlicha siwa), mouse-ear hawkweed (jastrzębiec kosmaczek), annual knawel (czerwiec
roczny), hard fescue (kostrzewa owcza).
Turtles mostly eat meat food. Their diet mainly consists of molluscs, insects, amphibians,
their tadpoles and small fish, all the organisms which may be hunted in the water.
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Fig. 2. The aquatic environment of European pond turtle, photo by J. Holuk
Spring is the best time of the year to observe reptiles, when after the winter they sunbathe
on the clumps of nearby plants or logs of fallen trees.
Breeding
In Poland, mating period of European pond turtle usually starts in April or early May,
although copulating pairs were observed in third decade of June in western Poland, after the
period of laying eggs by females (Najbar 2011). Copulation and fertilization takes place
in water. From the second half of May to mid-June, females lay from 7 to 23 eggs (12-14 in
average) in well-sunned places, sometimes far away from the water (Fig.3). The nest is a hole
dug with hind legs, with a pear-like cross section which can be from 10 to 12 cm deep. After
laying eggs a female carefully covers the nest and kneads the ground, and then masks it.
Embryonic development takes about 100 days. Immediately after leaving the egg shells,
young turtles are about 2 to 3 cm long and weigh about 3-6 g. In favorable weather
conditions, the young turtles hatch out in September or October and leave the nest to go to the
water. If in the same year they do not leave the nest, they winter in the soil until the spring of
the next year, without eating food.
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Fig.3. Female of European pond turtle laying eggs, photo by J. Holuk
Protection status of European pond turtle in Poland and European Union
European pond turtle has been under legal protection in Poland since 1935. On the
basis of the Regulation of the Minister of Environment of 12 October 2011 on the Protection
of Animal Species it is strictly protected and requires active protection, as well as the
designation of areas of protection. Additionally, as a species of a very high risk, highly
endangered, it is also included in the Polish Red Data Book of Animals. Within the IUCN Red
List (International Union for Conservation of Nature) it is classified in the category of species
of lower risk, close to be endangered in the global scale, but not requiring protection.
European pond turtle is also protected by European Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May
1992 on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora. It is listed both in
Annex II - animal and plant species of community interest whose conservation requires the
designation of special areas of conservation as well as in Annex IV - animal and plant species
of community interest in need of strict protection. It is also protected by the Berne Convention
of 19 September 1979 on the Protection of Species of wild European flora and fauna and their
habitats (Annex II, which strictly sets out protected species of fauna). In most of the areas of
its occurrence the turtle is subject to different local and wider forms of protection.
I.2 GENERAL INFORMATION ON AESCULAPIAN SNAKE
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Aesculapian snake (Wąż Eskulapa) Zamenis longissmus (Fig. 4) is a reptile which
belongs to the Colubrinae suborder and Zamenis family. In Poland typical species which
occurs is- Zamenis longissimus (Laurenti 1768) (Sura 2005).
Fig. 4. Aesculapian snake, photo by K. Kurek
Distribution
Aesculapian snake occupies areas of North-Eastern Spain, almost whole France,
Switzerland, northern and central Italy, Austria, south-eastern and southern Czech Republic,
southern and south-eastern Slovakia, south-western Ukraine, Moldova and Romania. In the
south and east its range includes the Balkans (Balkan Peninsula to the edge of Greece), the
Black Sea coast, north-western edge of Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, up to the north-western
Iran. Isolated positions of this species occur in Iran on Lake Urmia, in some regions of
Germany, namely: Rheinggau-Taunus, Neckar-Odenwald and Salzach, in the Czech Republic
in the area Karlovy Vary (Najbar 2004 a, b; Sura 2005).
After the last European glaciation, Aesculapian snake occurred within a substantial
area of Poland. Along with the re-cooling of the climate, range of this species has shrunk to
just a few refugees. Currently, its occurrence is limited to the south-eastern part of the
country (Szyndlar 1984 Najbar 2004 a, b). In our country, the population of this species is
probably isolated from the border of its clustered range (Najbar 2004 a, b; 2002). There are
known reports from the beginning of the twentieth century which indicate a large population
of Aesculapian snake on Roztocze (Bayger 1948 Najbar 2004 a, b). Occasionally the species
has been also recorded i.e. near Częstochowa (Skowron 2003 Wałecki 1883), Beskid
Sądecki - Zarzecze near Łącko (Barowicz, Jastrzebski 1977), in Beskid Niski - the most
recent reports from this area come from Zyndranowa near Dukla (Dembiczak 2004),
Przemyśl-Podgórze (Najbar 2004 a, b). These reports were mostly concerned with single
observations and it can be assumed that currently these positions are extremely sparse or
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extinct. In Bieszczady, up to 2003 recognition of the species distribution was conducted by
Najbar
(2004
a,
b;
2002)
and
Błażuka
(2007).
Reports
by
these
authors
on the occurrence of the Aesculapian snake were mainly related to the San valley in the area
of Otryt, the area of Lutowiska forest inspectorate and in the region of Solina. According to
the latest reports, this species occurs in the areas of Komańcza, Cisna and Baligród (Kurek
2010, 2011, 2012). Despite the continuation of measures connected with searching for
occurrence of the Aesculapian snake, current distribution of the species still can be regarded
as insufficiently known.
Morphology, coloration
Aesculapian snake is the biggest of the domestic snake species, which can grow longer
than 1.5 m (males are longer than females - sexual dimorphism).The body of Aesculapian
snake is slender and lithe. The scales on the back are smooth, free of rebate, and there are 9
big, regular shields on the head. These species also has double anal scale.
Coloration of the dorsal part of the body is usually dark, from olive-brown to brown.
The edges of the scales are white, which gives the impression of mottle. Yellow brightening
can be found on the back of the head, which is particularly explicitly marked at young
specimens, which makes them similar to grass snakes.
Habitat, food
Snakes pick their habitats in hierarchical way and selective choice of these habitats is
based on the micro-habitual preferences associated with foraging, reproduction, hibernation
and thermoregulation (Harvey and Weatherhead 2006). Diverse structure of the majority of
the habitats chosen by Aesculapian snake provides a large number of hiding places, abundant
food base, breeding sites and winter shelter. Aesculapian snake inhabits a variety of habitats,
which are characterized by good insolation and warm microclimate. Their habitats are usually
wooded, semi-open and open areas, e.g. forest clearings, edges of deciduous forests, banks of
rivers (Fig. 5) and creeks, quarries.
It eagerly enters the anthropogenic habitats (Fig. 6), in which human activity creates many
attractive places to hunt, busk in the sun and lay eggs. That is why, it is so often seen in the
vicinity of villages, old wooden buildings, bridge abutments, sawmills, etc. Places for laying
eggs are a very important part of Aesculapian snake habitat. They must be characterized by
stable thermal and moisture conditions. Typically these are layers of plant material (hay,
twigs, sawdust, branches, fallen tree trunks), sometimes the snake uses the spaces under
rocks, crevices between the boards of buildings, manures etc. Unfortunately, the natural
habitats do not offer many such structures, which is another factor contributing to penetration
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of Aesculapian snake in the territories inhabited by man, where snakes can find favorable
places to lay eggs.
Fig. 5. Rocky bank of the river San – natural
habitat of Aesculapian snake, photo by K. Kurek
Fig. 6. Aesculapian snake on the roof of a wooden building, photo by K. Kurek
Aesculapian snake mostly eats small vertebrates - mammals and lizards. It often hunts
for birds, and sometimes eats birds' eggs. Young individuals hunt for small lizards.
Aesculapian snake is very effective in the extermination of rodents; adult snake can eat whole
litter of a rodent, if the snake encounters it during the search for food. The victims are
strangled with snake’s body. Strangled victim is swallowed with its head being eaten first.
Smaller animals are swallowed alive.
Procreation
Aesculapian snake's mating season typically starts in May or June. At that time,
sexually active individuals are very stimulated and move intensively around the area in search
of a partner. After encountering a rival, adult males often begin ritual combat, involving
mutual pushing and pressing to the ground. Individual which loses the battle usually crawls
away, and the winner gains access to the female. Copulation lasts less than hour, during which
the male holds the female by the head or neck part of the body. Aesculapian snake, which is
thermophilic species, ends his hibernation late (usually in the beginning of May). It also mates
later, when compared to oviparous grass snake Natrix natrix.
Eggs are usually laid in July, sometimes as late as in August. The female lays eggs
in one, and sometimes in two batches. The number of eggs laid is small, typically 8-12. Eggs
measuring 35-58 x 17- 25 mm, are oval in shape, and larger than those of a grass snake eggs.
Hatching occurs in late summer or early autumn. Young specimens measure from 25 to over
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30 cm in length. Their color is more contrast than the color of adults, which may lead to
identifying them as grass snakes (Fig.7).
Fig. 7. Adolescent Aesculapian snake individual, photo by G. Baś
The length of development of the embryo normally depends on the thermal properties and
humidity of reproduction spots, which in turn are impacted by the material from which they
are made (Najbar 2004 a, b, Gomille 2002, Sura 2005). The shortest incubation period of
Aesculapius snake eggs is associated with places of a secondary nature, such as mounds of
sawdust, where stinging occurs between 48 and 55 days after eggs have been laid, while in
sun-exposed primary microhabitats such as rotting leaves stinging occurs between 58 and 65
days after oviposition. Whilst, in the shady microhabitats such as rotting wood incubation
period of eggs is increased by up to 100 days, which makes the stinging fall on the month of
October (Najbar 2004b).
Aesculapius snake protection status in Poland and the European Union.
Aesculapian snake is under strict protection (dying species in Poland and Europe), in
the second edition of "Polish Red Data Book of Animals" it was given the status of critically
endangered species CR (Głowaciński 2001). It is also included in the "Carpathian List Of
Endangered Species" as an endangered species - EN (Witkowski, Król, Solarz 2003). It is also
covered by the Berne Convention of 19 September 1979, on the protection of species of wild
Eurpean flora and fauna and their habitats, and the European Council Directive 92/43/ EEC of
21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora in Annex IV Animal and plant species of community interest in need of strict protection. In The Red Book
of Endangered Species published by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of
Nature), Aesculapian snake was classified as a species of "least concern". In Poland, in
accordance with the Regulation of the Minister of the Environment of 12 October 2011 on the
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Protection of species of animals, Aesculapian snake is covered by strict protection and
requires active protection, as well as designation of areas of protection.
I.3 GENERAL INFORMATION ON SMOOTH SNAKE
Smooth snake is the most widespread species of the Cornella genus. Others include
Coronella girondica inhabiting Italy, Sicily, Iberian Peninsula, southern France and northern
regions of Africa and Coronella brachyura found in Asia in Deccan Peninsula.
Currently, there are three distinguished subspecies of the smooth snake: Coronella austriaca
austriaca, Coronella austriaca fitzingeri (Italian peninsula, Sicily), Coronella austriaca
acutirostris (north-western Iberian Peninsula).
The name "gniewosz" (Polish name of the species is gniewosz plamisty) comes from the
belief that the snake is of very aggressive nature. Tales about a nervous nature of the smooth
snake are slightly exaggerated. It is true that after the snake is caught it can bite (which is
completely harmless to man), but many individuals behave gently and do not bite. Another,
more colloquial name, "miedzianka", refers to smooth snakes with brown, reddish coloration.
However, other legless reptiles with brown coloration, especially common European viper, are
also called "miedzianka".
The names of this species in other European countries mainly refer to its smooth scales, e.g.
smooth snake (England), glattnatter (Germany), uzovka hladká (Czech Republic).
Distribution
Smooth snake inhabits vast area of Europe, from the southern part of the Scandinavian
Peninsula, the South of England and Denmark, up to the southern ends of the continent. To
the east its range extends into Asia Minor, the Caucasus and the Ural mountain range.
In Poland, the distribution of smooth snake is poorly known. In general, is has local
and irregular character. It is a species which is reported individually in almost entire country,
although its position is not evenly distributed (Głowaciński, Rafiński 2003). The northernmost
observations of smooth snake come from Warmia and Mazury (around Łomża – G. Górecki
oral inf.). A large number of statements come from i.e. Gostynińsko-Wloclawskie Lakeland
(Zieliński and others 2002) and from the West of Poland (Opole Silesia, Lower Silesia,
Lubuskie Land) (Profus and others 2012, Kaźmierczak, 2011 Najbar 1997). Posts of the
smooth snake also spread out through almost entire southern part of the country. The species
is relatively rare in Bieszczady Mountains (Bury 2009), it is more common in Pieniny
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Mountains (Rybacki 2008b) and on the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland. Numerous occurrences
of smooth snake come from an area of Solska Primeval Forest and Roztocze (P. Stachyra oral
inf.).
Most of the reports on the occurrence of smooth snake in Poland are a single
observation, larger groups of snakes are much more rarely observed. Populations counting
more than ten individuals of this species were found in just a few locations.
Morphology and diagnostic features
Smooth snake is a rather small snake. The adult individuals usually grow up to 70 cm
in length (females are larger than males).The body is slender, the head is small, oval, quite
poorly isolated from the rest of the body. The tail accounts for about 1/5 of body length (males
have relatively longer tail than females), and it ends sharply. Coloration of the dorsal part of
the body varies. Shades of brown and gray are dominant. On this background, there is a
darker pattern composed of 2-4 longitudinal rows of spots. These spots can connect
longitudinally or transversely into strips or ladder-like patterns. Smooth snake does not have
characteristic zigzag, which is characteristic for vipers, but the coloration of this species may
be similar at first glance and lead to confusion (Fig. 9a, b). On the sides of the head, at eye
level dark streak can be found. The head bears a clear stain in the U shape, which can connect
with the pattern at the back (individuals inhabiting British Isles do not have a U-shaped
ending). The pupil of the eye is round, as opposed to the vertical gap-like pupil of common
European viper. The iris usually has golden or yellow-brown color. The top of the head is
covered with 9 regular shields. The scales on the body are smooth and free of rebate. There
are usually two anal shields (Fig. 8a, b). Sexual dimorphism is relatively poorly highlighted.
In addition to the differences in size, there can also occur differences in the coloring of the
body. Males are usually colored in various shades of brown, while in females darker, gray,
colors
dominate.
Similarly,
males
have
lighter
ventral
side
than females, which usually is reddish-brown, while the female ventral side is mostly gray to
black. Both sexes have a speckled pattern on the back.
In sexually mature individuals, morphological differences are more vivid in the area near
cloaca. Males, due to the presence of the reproductive organs, have thickened tail behind
cloaca, which is relatively longer than the rest of the body than in case of females. Females'
tail narrows down just behind the cloaca and it is
shorter.
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Fig.8 and b. Typical coloration of smooth snake. Visible circular pupil and characteristic
head spotting, photo by S. Bury
Fig.9 a, b. Common European viper. Visible vertical pupil and characteristic zigzag, photo by
S. Bury
Tab. 1. Summary of main characteristics of national legless reptile species (dice snake was
omitted due to its uncertain status in Poland).
Smooth snake

Small, slender, smooth scales, head with 9 regular
shields.


Common European viper
Grass snake
Aesculapian snake
Round pupil.
The top of the body in various shades of brown or gray
with 2-4 rows of spots or stripes. U-shaped stain on the head.
Dark streak on the sides of the head.

Small, bulky, rebate scales, head with numerous
irregular shields.

Vertical pupil.

The top of the body in various shades of brown or gray.

Zigzag ribbon on the back. V or X-shaped spot on the
head. Dark and light streak on the sides of the head.

Quite a large head with 9 regular shields, rebate scales

Round pupil

Dark gray, brown or olive body, sometimes
with darker spots on the sides or bright edges of scales.

Yellow, white or orange spots on the back of the head,
surrounded by black color.

Large, slender, 9 regular shields on the head, smooth
scales.

Round pupil.

Olive to brown top of the body, usually with bright
spots. Yellow brightening on the back of the head.
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
Characteristic, solid, creamy-yellow bottom of the
body
Blind worm





Small, slender, small shields on the head
Body covered with numerous small, shiny scales.
Round pupil
Head slightly isolated, lizard-like
Brown top of the body, sometimes with a dark line,
usually darker sides. Dark bottom of the body with little scales.

Rarer, bright, gray individuals or ones with blue
markings on the back.

May detach tail
Habitats
Habitats in Poland where the smooth snake can be found are very diverse. It is
generally believed that this species prefers well exposed to sun and dry environment. Most
frequently, smooth snakes are present in semi-open and open areas overgrown with rather low
vegetation of differentiated structure. This species most often chooses heterogeneous habitats,
which constitute a mosaic of different elements - borderland plant communities, stony places
(Fig. 10), the periphery of the forests and fields, balks, banks of watercourses, scarps and
ravines; it also willingly enters into anthropogenic structures (Fig. 13).
Despite the requirements connected with sunshine and food base accessibility (mainly
lizards), smooth snake may also be present in typical forest habitats. It applies, however, to
thinned stands such as pine forests (Fig. 12), which are characterized by good sunshine of the
forest floor, and well-developed underbrush. This type of habitat enables also migration
between positions (Zielinski, Stanislawski 2006). Foothills and mountains are dominated by
denser stands that are too cool and moist for smooth snakes. In addition, strong shading
causes that such habitats are avoided by potential victims of smooth snakes (lizards),
therefore, in the southern part of the country this species is observed in narrower range of
habitats; mainly in open and semi-open areas, such as xerothermic grasslands (Fig. 11), forest
clearings, forests edges, roadsides, stony areas (e.g. quarries, deforested areas, screes) (Bury
2012).
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Fig. 10. Quarry-example of smooth snake’s habitat in Bieszczady Mountains photo by S. Bury
Fig. 11 Typical habitat of smooth snake – xerothermic grassland, photo by W. Heise
Fig. 12 Pine forest-example of smooth snake’s forest environment photo by N Juras
Fig. 13 Antrhopogenic habitat of smooth snake-ruins of wooden household, photo by S. Bury
Food and natural enemies
Smooth snake is often referred to as a monofagic species which feeds mainly on
lizards and other reptile species (there are also known cases of cannibalism). Research on
food preferences of a smooth snake confirms this finding since in most cases lizards are the
most common victims of smooth snakes. This snake, however, often hunts for other small
vertebrates, for instance rodents and their litters. Diet composition of a smooth snake is
dependent on the availability of different types of victims in a given area, so that the
proportions of animal species eaten by the snake can vary; e.g. in the UK, the food
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composition is dominated by small mammals. Research conducted in Poland (Lubuska Land)
showed that the reptiles are most frequently devoured (Najbar 2000). The nature of habitats
occupied by this species in the area of the country shows that also in other regions the reptiles
may constitute the basic element of its food base.
Smooth snake has many natural enemies. These are, first of all, the birds of prey, corvids,
storks and others. The snakes are also killed by mustelids, foxes, hedgehogs and rats.
Domestic animals such as cats and chickens can likewise hunt for small smooth snakes.
Phenology and reproduction
Smooth snake ends its winter sleep in the spring, usually in April, but when the
weather is favorable, even in March. Shortly after the end of hibernation it starts mating.
Males are at that time very active and penetrate the area in search of a partner for
reproduction. In the case of an encounter with other males it usually comes to fights,
sometimes very violent, which might end up in injuring rivals. After finding a female
copulation takes place which lasts less than an hour. The female gives birth to young in late
summer (August, September). In populations inhabiting the mountainous areas, which are
characterized by short growing season and severe climate conditions, the smooth snakes
females can breed less frequently – once every two or even three years. There are several or
over a dozen young born, depending on the size of a female. Newly born smooth snakes are
small in size, from about 12 to 20 cm long, and their coloration is typically camouflaging.
Smooth snakes reach sexual maturity in 3 or 4 years of age, and males mature faster than
females. In the wild, they can live about 8 years. In the autumn, at the end of September,
smooth snakes start seeking winter shelters. These are usually underground hideouts,
maintaining a constant temperature of about fifteen degrees. The shelters are often
simultaneously used by other animals.
Status in Poland - changes and their causes
Smooth snake is one of the rarest species of reptiles in our country. In the Polish Red
Book of Animals it received the VU status – at risk of extinction, wherein its total population
was estimated at only 8 - 9 thousand specimen (Profus, Sura 2001). The status of a smooth
snake in Poland is, however, hard to define precisely. Over the years in the national
herpetologic literature, there appeared contradictory statements on the subject. According to
papers from the 1960s and 1970s, smooth snake was a frequent species in Poland (Młynarski
1971). Subsequent works indicated poor condition of the national population of smooth snake
and a small number of known positions (e.g. Goslawski, Fisheries 1988; Zemanek, Rafiński
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1989). Finally, smooth snake species was considered extremely rare and endangered in Poland
(e.g. Najbar 1997).
However, a number of new positions were described over the past several years which
suggests that this species is not as dire as previously thought. Nonetheless, these changes are
probably not a result of colonization of new areas by a smooth snake, but a more thorough
penetration of the area during the faunistic studies and a growing number of naturalists.
Moreover, a smooth snake is a hardly detectable snake, what in some cases may result in
inaccuracies in determining the state of population. The problem of detection was observed
by, among others, Wiśniowski and Rozwałka (2007) describing a number of smooth snake
observations in the Ojców National Park. According to the previous studies concerning the
fauna of the Ojców National Park a smooth snake was considered a rare species
(Antoszewska-Bugno, Młynarski 1977), sebsequently Szyndlar (1995) called a smooth snake
as disappearing within the Park citing only a single observation. It is possible that a number of
smooth snake in the park really underwent decline relatively to overgrowth of xerothermic
grasslands. Wiśniowski and Rozwałka, however, drew attention to the conditions in which
most of the observations of smooth snakes were made. In the national herpetologic literature
the view prevailed that sunny and scorching weather is optimal for the search of the snakes
(Juszczyk 1987). In the work cited, within the Ojców National Park most individuals of this
species were, however, observed during cloudy days. The effectiveness of the search of
smooth snakes under such conditions has been confirmed also by the observations conducted
in other parts of Poland (Dembicka et al., 2006; Bury 2009). It is therefore possible that the
alleged changes in the number of smooth snakes are the result of the difficulty in finding
them.
A nationwide monitoring of smooth snake was conducted in 2009 and 2010. Results of the
monitoring shed some light on the actual state of smooth snake population. It was confirmed
that on the majority the surveyed positions it is a rare species, even with the relatively good
condition of the habitat. Only part of the population, which is numerous and resides in
favorable habitat, seems to have a stable structure and a chance for existence in the coming
years. Smooth snake’s situation in the alpine continental region is however less optimistic due
to, among others, high isolation of the surveyed positions (Najbar 2012).
There is no doubt that despite the latest reports of observations of the smooth snake and
increasingly fuller recognition of its distribution and abundance in Poland, it is a rare species,
and in many places a disappearing one.
Status in Europe
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In most European countries, smooth snake is a rare and protected species.
In 11 out of the 14 countries in the Western Europe, smooth snake was placed on the Red List.
In Germany, Norway, Switzerland, Poland and Finland it was classified as vulnerable (VUvulnerable). In the Netherlands, Lithuania and Latvia smooth snake is considered to be an
endangered species (EN-endangered). In Denmark it is an extinct species, while in France and
Sweden it is classified as requiring special protection.
According to the Bern Convention of 19 September 1979, smooth snake is a species in danger
of extinction. The snake was also placed in the European Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21
May 1992 on conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora in Annex IVAnimal and plant species of Community interest in need of strict protection.
II. Threats and protection methods
II.1 MAIN THREATS TO EUROPEAN POND TURTLE
European pond turtle is nowadays a rare and endangered animal species. The extent of
its occurrence in Poland is still shrinking despite legal protection. It is caused primarily by
human activity, which is sometimes conscious, but in most cases it is related to the lack of
knowledge. The main threats are undoubtedly those connected with degradation of wetland
habitats by drying them, management of the wetlands, river regulation and water pollution.
Fires of wetlands are the consequence of drying them. Dried reed beds burn easily and many
animals including European pond turtles are killed each year in fire.
The second group of risks is related to the development of infrastructure, including the ever
denser network of roads and the growing intensity of communication traffic. Construction of
new roads is on the one hand a very desirable action, especially by the local communities, but
on the other hand it contributes to further habitat fragmentation and isolation of populations of
different groups of animals. There are also known cases of destroying breeding grounds due
to land development and mining of minerals (sand). On the other hand, in eastern Poland there
are several turtle breeding grounds formed in old not used sand pits (Fig.14).
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Fig.14. One of the biggest European pond turtle breeding grounds in Polesie is located in a
former sand mine.
The abandonment of farming on the weakest, often sandy soils causes that they are devoted
for afforestation on the large scale. Such a procedure is the most rational, but unfortunately
sometimes the European pond turtle breeding grounds, perhaps the last ones in the region, are
also destroyed. In a situation where we do not really know how many of them are still in the
country, and we are aware of only 60-70 breeding sites, including about 40 in the Lublin
region (Lubelszczyzna), each one is valuable due to protection of the turtle.
Potentially very dangerous anthropogenic factor, of at the moment unknown scale of the
threat to the European pond turtle, is the introduction of alien species into the environment
such as red-eared slider (żółw czerwonolicy) Trachemys scripta elegans. It is a subspecies of
the North American pond slider (północno amerykański żółw ozdobny) whose natural range
of occurrence includes mid-east part of the United States. The present actual range of this
reptile occurrence is much bigger and covers virtually all continents (except Antarctica). For
this reason, the red-eared slider is considered to be the most widespread species of terrapin in
the world. In Europe, red-eared sliders inhabit many reservoirs and watercourses in most of
the countries, also in Poland. These reptiles are able to survive even severe winters due to the
similar climatic conditions in our country and in northern part of the natural range of redeared slider occurrence in the USA. In order to better recognize the threat and plan a possible
protective measures, The Polish Society for Nature Protection „Salamandra” from Poznań
maintains a record of observations of alien species of turtles in the natural environment.
Everyone who will observe such a turtle in nature may communicate information on this
subject through the website of the Society: http://www.salamandra.org.pl/obcezgloszenie.html
The example of American mink (norka amerykańska) Neovison vison, which almost
completely displaced the European mink (norka europejska) Mustela lutreola native for our
continent, should be an important warning for us.
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Natural factors influencing the regulation of the number of the European pond turtle, include:
adverse climatic conditions, spontaneous overgrowing of breeding grounds, pressure of
destroying nests predators, diseases and parasites.
It happens that in the cool and wet summers (e.g. summer of 2011.), European pond turtle
breeding success is minimal or non-existent. It is a natural phenomenon which is not as
important for the existence of the population as the maintenance of appropriate habitat
conditions for the long-lived species. Changes associated with overgrowth of psammophytic
grasslands, where the female turtles lay their eggs constitute much greater threat to the
reproductive success of the European pond turtle.
After only a few years there may be no trace of the "turtle" grasslands as a result of
succession or afforestation. Females attached to their breeding sites will return for some time
to such places. Some of them, especially the old specimen, will come back even for a
several or over a dozen consecutive years. However, in the changed conditions of habitat, the
eggs have no chance for the full development of embryos and thus precious broods are lost.
Young turtles fall prey to many animals: foxes, badgers, raccoon dogs, wild boars, ravens,
herons, and even some insects like great diving beetle. Predatory fish are also dangerous for
them. Only the hard armor, which hardens at about five years of age, provides protection from
predators to young turtles. Predation is natural. But is the population size of some predators,
like foxes natural? Over the last 20-30 years it grew on the Chełmskie Peat bogs up to 3 times.
This is evident not only by the number of destroyed nests of the European pond turtle
(Fig.15), but also by the drastically decreasing numbers of partridges and hares.
Fig.15. Turtle nest destroyed by a predator
Diseases and parasites are a natural factor affecting the size and condition of the European
pond turtle population. In Poland, little research has been conducted so far on diseases and
parasites in turtles which live in the natural environment. In the years 2006-2007 a pilot test
for the presence of pathological changes caused by microorganisms and parasites on 55
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specimen from the area of Słubice was conducted. They showed numerous bacterial infection
infections caused by protozoa and fungi. There were also found common leeches from
Rhynchobdellidae family inter alia leech Placobdella costata parasitizing turtles, and the
presence of eggs or larvae of common internal parasites; nematodes (nicień) Nematoda,
tapeworms (tasiemiec) Cestoda and trematodes (przywry) Trematoda in faecal. The state of
health of some of the tested specimens from western Poland pointed to harassing them by
serious illness (Najbar 2011).
Although in the past 20-30 years, the state of our knowledge about the European pond turtle
has been constantly increasing, this species is still hiding many secrets. Paradoxically, one of
the largest areas of the current distribution and abundance of the European pond turtle in the
area of our country. Nowadays, the most common cause of destruction of the turtle habitat is
the lack of knowledge of its occurrence in a given place, and not a bad will of people. The
turtle enjoys a moderate sympathy and there is ample evidence that people can give up their
intentions when their implementation may destroy the habitats of this endangered and
mysterious animal. That is why we must as soon as possible eliminate this threat resulting
from the lack of knowledge of the survived positions of the European pond turtle in Poland.
II. 2. MAIN THREATS TO AESCULAPIAN SNAKE
Isolated populations which are not numerous, especially those located on the edge of
their range are particularly exposed to the effects of anthropogenic impact, such as loss and
fragmentation of habitats, what in turn may lead to their extinction (Pullin 2004).
The national Aesculapian snake population exists on the border of the total range of
occurrence. It means that the environment conditions are not optimal in this area, since they
prevent the dispersion of the species to the north.
Unfavorable climatic conditions belong to the main threats of natural origin. Period of
Aesculapian snake activity in the Bieszczady Mountains is shorter than of the other species of
reptiles, what in some seasons prevents efficient reproduction of the Aesculapian snakes. In
connection with late mating season and thus late egg laying, the final stage of the embryos
development falls in the period of the first frost (the end of August, September). As a result,
many eggs die and breeding success is not achieved. In addition, the breeding microhabitats
available in the Bieszczady Mountains do not provide optimal conditions for incubation.
Potential breeding sites located in the semi-natural and natural areas quickly lose their thermal
and moisture properties because of progressive succession of vegetation.
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According to Najbar (2004 a, b), the number of Aesculapian snakes in the valley of the San
probably remained stable enough until the mid-twentieth century. Extensive farming and
cattle grazing dominated in these areas; at the time wooden and stone buildings favored the
occurrence of this species. Due to the presence of man, large open spaces and a significant
amount of secondary and adequate breeding habitats in the form of piles of manure, straw or
hay were maintained over the last few centuries. After the displacement of the population
under the "Vistula" action (akcja "Wisła"), the size of snakes could even temporarily increase
since the remains of buildings and considerable forest-free lands favored the migration and
spread of the population. The progressive secondary succession and planned afforestation in
the last several dozen years caused a significant reduction of acreage and population size, and
these tendencies confirmed the research conducted since the 1970s, on the basis of which, the
size of "otrycka" population was estimated at only 80 - 100 specimens until 2009 (Najbar
2004 a, b).
According to current knowledge, this species adopted a rather settled lifestyle. The greatest
distances are covered by males during the mating period (up to 3 km) (Najbar 2004 a, b).
Consequently, the isolated populations/positions in the Bieszczady Mountains do not provide
the continuity of the species duration , what is more, the migrating animals, due to the small
size, are not able to find breeding partners. In addition, the growing area of forests can lead to
increased isolation of particular positions and consequently impede, or even completely
prevent the colonization of new positions by snakes and migration between the existing ones
(Najbar 2004 a, b, Kurek et al. 2009 mat. unpublished. Kurek et al . 2010, 2011). The already
mentioned overgrowing of open and semi-open areas forces snakes to leave their positions. It
is at increased risk for falling prey to predators, a man or being run over on transport routes.
The growing amount of traffic results in increased mortality of animals on the road, including
the Aesculapian snakes (Fig. 16). Snakes, as cold-blooded animals, can use quickly warming
surfaces of roads, to warm themselves. In areas with high forest cover of roadsides, as an
ecotone zone used by snakes as a place of existence, they are also the migration routes of
animals. Aesculapian snake is a synanthropic species; it uses abandoned and inhabited
buildings, apiaries, composters, where it finds a convenient place to lay eggs, permanent
shelter and adequate food base (Drobny 1993, Heimes, Waitzmann 1993 Waitzmann 1993,
Gomille 2002, Mikátová Zavadil 2001, Janoušek Musilová 2009, Najbar 2004a b; Kurek
2010).
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Fig. 16. Dead Aesculapian snake on the road around the "Krywe" nature reserve, photo by
G. Baś
The presence of snakes in the vicinity of human settlements is associated with an increased
risk of thoughtless killing, falling prey to domestic animals and increased mortality on roads
during migration. Undoubtedly, fear of vipers and inability to identify species of snakes has
a negative impact on other national hoses, including Aesculapian snake. Impact of domestic
animals on snake populations is difficult to determine. Cats, and even domestic birds can
successfully hunt for young specimens of Aesculapian snake. High thermal requirements of
Aesculapian snake are mostly reflected on the problem related to the limited availability of
breeding microhabitats. Snakes penetrate to the areas inhabited by man in search of places
to lay eggs. Female of Aesculapian snake and the grass snakes (zaskroniec zwyczajny)
Natrix natrix, very willingly and in large numbers use for instance the piles of sawdust at
sawmills to lay eggs. These two species may together lay up to several hundreds of eggs in
one place (Najbar 2004 a, b). It should be borne in mind that due to low size of Aesculapian
snake and its breeding biology the number of eggs of this species is from a few to a few dozen
times lower compared to the number of eggs of grass snakes in such group layings. Until now
such places provided breeding success and probably largely contributed to the survival of the
Aesculapian snake in the area of the village Zatwarnica. The problem appeared a few years
ago when sawdust reached the market value and is currently used for example for the
production of fuel briquettes. The frequency with which they are sold prevents the formation
of more sustainable breeding habitats and, consequently, results in the destruction of eggs and
the formation of ecological traps for this endangered species.
An important but difficult to define factor which negatively affects the size of the Aesculapian
snake is trapping them illegally to private breeding. A procedure repeatedly described in the
literature that threatens the Aesculapian snakes is illegal catching. Little is known about the
intensity of this activity, however, in the second half of the twentieth century, there were many
cases of catching snakes in the Bieszczady Mountains and their exporting into different parts
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of Poland e.g. to the zoos or abroad. Currently, there are indications that this practice still
exists, but it is extremely difficult to catch people responsible for it red-handed.
II. 3. MAIN THREATS TO SMOOTH SNAKE
Smooth snake populations are exposed to variety of factors that may have a negative
effect on the size, age structure or condition of the habitat. Some of them are the result of
natural processes occurring in the ecosystem, such as vegetation succession, but the threats of
the most serious impact on the populations of smooth snakes are of anthropogenic origin.
The main threats to smooth snake include:
 Killing and extermination
Smooth snake, due to its body size and coloration, is often confused with an adder and
consequently becomes a prey for people who exterminate adders. This practice has sometimes
an alarmingly high intensity. Killing of 7059 smooth snakes was recorded at the beginning of
the last century in the area of Slovenia (Engelmann 1993). There is no precise data for Poland,
but the information provided by Pax (1925) concerning the adders extermination clearly
suggests the possibility of extermination of smooth snakes "by the way, and by mistake".
 Loss of natural habitats and their fragmentation
Smooth snakes’ occurrence is dependent on the presence of suitable habitats. Most of them
are destroyed with cities and roads development. Some positions disappear as a result of
afforestation of the open areas and changes in agriculture. The reduction of smooth snake
habitats’ areas is associated with the increasing isolation of particular positions. Thereby, the
risk of extinction of local populations is growing, inter alia, by limiting migration and
potential decline of genetic variation.
 Overgrowing of semi-open and open areas
As was mentioned before, a smooth snake inhabits mainly non-forest areas (with some
exceptions), with a high degree of sunshine. Overgrowing of such habitats is associated with a
reduction of sunshine and thus the quality of the habitat decreases. In addition, also lizards –
the main victims of a smooth snake – avoid shaded areas.
 Development of road infrastructure and increase of car traffic
Animal mortality on the roads has been a pressing problem for many years. Snakes are
exposed to this factor in a particular way. Killed under the wheels of cars not only while
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crossing communication routes during migration, but they can also use the road to warm and
search for the victims, which increases the risk of being run over.
 Reduction of food base abundance
Lizards constitute the main dietary ingredient of a smooth snake. Destruction of natural
habitats, killing them by pets, changes in the use of agricultural land and many other factors
lead to a reduction of the lizards number (at the same time, many of these factors affect
directly the smooth snakes), what may have a negative effect on the condition of the smooth
snake population. Also, the growing use of chemicals in agriculture and horticulture can
seriously contribute to the diminution of the lizards and smooth snakes population. Chemicals
which aim at extermination of invertebrates are able to accumulate in organisms of preying on
insects lizards, then devoured by smooth snakes (Hall 1980).
 Changes in agriculture
In many cases the traditional farming favored the occurrence of smooth snakes population and
other species of snakes. The open areas do not overgrow due to cattle grazing. Farm buildings
provided a large number of hiding places and potential prey (lizards, rodents). Agricultural
lands were fragmented by balks and heavy equipment, or pesticides were not used for the
cultivation. Nowadays, clear and rapid adverse changes in agriculture can be observed. The
most important of these include land reparcelling, as a result of which habitats and migration
routes of snakes are destroyed, as well as the use of heavy equipment, which is associated
with the killing of small animals, and the unfavorable impact of plant protection products. At
the same time, there is no compensating actions ensuring the maintenance of at least
fragments of habitats.
 Increasing urbanization
Cities development has a direct negative impact on the incidence of smooth snakes and other
reptiles population. Natural and semi-natural habitats are destroyed relatively to the
development of further areas. The urban environment is very rarely used by reptiles, and only
in sporadic cases it happens that the populations of snakes persist in the cities (e.g. in Cracow
[Kraków] – Bury 2011).
 Catching snakes in order to keep them in terrarium.
It is difficult to assess the real impact of this practice on the condition of smooth snake
population. It is possible that, at the current availability of many species of snakes propagated
in captivity, the cases of illegal catches are rare and are not so significant. However, the
possibility of locally frequent catching of snakes should be taken into account, as was
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indicated by the numerous appeals of the Polish herpetologists (e.g. Gosławski, Rybacki
1988).
III Used and recommended methods of protection of
European pond turtle, Aesculapian snake and smooth
snake
III. 1. LEGAL PROTECTION OF EUROPEAN POND TURTLE,
AESCULAPIAN SNAKE AND SMOOTH SNAKE
As was already mentioned in the chapter concerning protection status - European pond turtle,
Aesculapian snake and smooth snake are in Poland subjected to strict protection and require
an active protection, as well as the determination of protective zones.
Passive protection, further referred to as conservation, is primarily the protection of the
species through introducing universally binding prohibitions which are to protect the given
species from the adverse influence of people.
Selected regulations concerning the European pond turtle, Aesculapian snake and smooth snake (valid
on the basis of the regulation on the protection of animal species) prohibit:
 deliberate: killing, mutilation, capture, destruction of their eggs, juveniles, scaring and
disturbance;

transport, acquisition, retention, and also possession of live animals;

collection, retention and possession of specimens of the species;

destruction of their habitats, refuges, and nests;

selection, possession and storage of their eggs;

preparation of specimens;

disposal, offering for sale, exchange and donation of specimens;

photographing, filming and observation, which may cause scaring or disturbance to animals;

movement from places of regular presence to other places.
In order to ensure the permanent preservation of the species, its habitat or refuge, to eliminate
the causes of threats and to improve the conservation status of its habitat or refuge, the locally
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competent Regional Director for Environmental Protection can determine and eliminate
through an administrative decision – the protection zone of the refuges, breeding sites and
regular presence of the European pond turtle, Aesculapian snake and smooth snake. The
boundaries of the protection zones should be marked with boards bearing the words "Animal
refuge, no admission for unauthorized persons." In justified situations, such as scientific
research or active protection of the population, it is possible to obtain derogations from some
of the aforementioned prohibitions.
In the protection zones, without the permission of the regional director for environmental
protection the following is prohibited:
 stay of people, with the exception of the owner of the property covered by the
protection zone, the management personnel and persons who supervise the areas
covered by the protection zone, as well as those who work under a contract concluded
with the owner or manager;
 cutting down trees or shrubs;
 making changes in water conditions; if it is not associated with the need of protection
of particular species;
 erection of buildings, equipment and installations.
Two types of protection zones around breeding sites and regular presence of the European
pond turtle and Aesculapian snake have been created:

all year round zone - valid within 200 m of the breeding places and places of
regular presence;

seasonal zone - valid within 500 m of breeding places and places of regular
residence; which is valid from 1 March for the European pond turtle (1 April for the
Aesculapian snake) to 30 September.
The provided size of the protection zone for the smooth snake:

Up to 100 m throughout the year;

Up to 500 m in the period from 1 March to 31 August.
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Fig.17. Marking of the European pond turtle protection zone in the Sobiborskie Forests (Lasy
Sobiborskie), photo by J. Holuk
In situations dictated by the need of species protection, the regional director for environmental
protection may issue a permit to derogations from the prohibitions concerning cutting down
trees and shrubs as well as changes in water conditions.
Many people involved in nature conservation, including foresters, avoid designating
protective zones in their area, because of the prohibitions and administrative procedures
associated to the necessity of agreeing on any treatment in the zones, and above all, of the
excessive length of the proceedings. These concerns, unfortunately, tend to be justified. It
should be remembered, however, how greatly the species of European pond turtle,
Aesculapian snake and smooth snake are important for our native fauna and how they are
threatened. Do we have the right to subject the conservation of these species habitats to such
an extent only on the goodwill of people? Shouldn’t the foundations of these species and their
habitats protection be permanent, not subject to various, sometimes even conjunctural
interests? Proper planning of the potential protective area may prove to be free from obstacles
for the local residents and users of the area, and what is more, it may even be advantageous
(e.g. protection against land investments of an educational or recreational value). In practice,
the designated area may have a smaller area than listed in the regulation on animal
species protection. Therefore, this type of protective treatments must be properly consulted
with specialists who may offer an optimal, compromise solution. Any unnecessary difficulties
in communication should be tackled through dialogue between the concerned parties to the
proceedings. The parties mutual respect and understanding is the foundation of a good
cooperation. Area protection is a stable security of the given area, which does not mean, of
course, that in every case of a turtle, Aesculapian snake, or smooth snake presence there must
be such a zone designated, or a nature reserve set up. In some cases, the designation of the
zone may not be necessary, e.g., when the use of a given area reinforces the occurrence of
snakes, and the protective regime of the zone prohibits performance of certain tasks. For
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example, in the area inhabited by humans, e.g. at the villages, some anthropogenic structures
such as piles of wooden planks, branches or construction waste may constitute advantageous
hiding places for the smooth snakes and Aesculapian snakes; grazing cattle, in turn, prevents
the overgrowth of open areas, etc.
Clearly, however, the protective zones provide a good protection for positions of the discussed
reptile species in situations of an imminent threat of habitat, e.g. a planned construction
investment.
The position of the species mentioned above, to which it was considered not to be protected in
the form of nature reserves or protective zones, can be protected in other forms, such as
ecological ground. According to the act of 16th April of 2004 on nature conservation,
ecological grounds are remains of ecosystems worth protecting which are important for the
conservation of biological diversity - natural water reservoirs, mid-field and forest ponds,
clumps of trees and shrubs, swamps, peat bogs, dunes, areas of unused vegetation, old river
beds, rock outcrops, slopes, rocks, natural habitats and habitats of rare or protected species of
plants, animals and fungi, their refuges and reproduction places or places of seasonal
residence. Currently, the resolution of the municipal council establishes and abolishes this
form of nature protection. It specifies the name of the given object or area, its location,
supervisor, the specific objectives of protection, if necessary, the arrangements for its active
protection and prohibitions applicable to this object, area or its part. The project of such a
resolution requires to be agreed with the competent regional director for environmental
protection. The abolition of ecological ground occurs in the event of a loss of natural values,
for which the form of conservation was established or, if necessary, the implementation of a
public purpose investment or ensuring public safety.
The full text of the act of nature conservation can be found in the Online System of
Legal Acts - isap.sejm.gov.pl.
Permissions for derogation from the prohibitions
In the case of planning the protective measures concerning smooth snake, Aesculapian
snake and European pond turtle, it may be necessary to obtain the appropriate permits.
Specimen applications for the derogations from the prohibitions can be found on the pages of
the
Regional
Directorate
for
Environmental
Protection,
General
Directorate
for
Environmental Protection or the Ministry of Environment. The application must clearly define
the actions which are to be implemented with justification for the selection of these and not
other methods. The information such as an estimated number of specimens which will be
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caught (if they will), a description of the planned procedures, time and place of works, the
names of the people involved and the significance and potential effect of the proposed
activities on the populations should also be provided. It is necessary to obtain additional
permits in the case of planning works on protected areas. Applications are usually examined
by people who do not specialize in the biology of reptiles. Therefore, placing the vast and
intricate descriptions stating the validity of the planned activities should be avoided.
Descriptions and justifications of the proposed procedures should be concise and clear. In
some cases it may be helpful to enclose a copy of an article or other text which confirms the
reliability of the chosen activities.
III.2 ACTIVE PROTECTION OF EUROPEAN POND TURTLE
Active protection measures were forced by the pressure which people put on the
particular species and ecosystems and the changes in the habitats which are the effect of
human activity. Active conservation complies with the latest trends, programs and documents
about active conservation, i.e. Convention on Biological Diversity signed in Rio in 1992,
which assumes that the species extinction to the "natural" level should be stopped; the
strategy of EU sustainable development targeted to stop the decline in biological diversity till
the end of 2012 using the network Natura 2000, etc. It seems to move in the right direction
because non-intervention management attempts on some ecosystems do not work, for
example, xerothermic grasslands do not exist any longer. Meanwhile, active conservation has
its desired effects. However, is it always the case? To answer the question if active of passive
conservation is better Dr Krzysztof Wojciechowski from The Pope John Paul II Catholic
University of Lublin (KUL) wrote that “we should do one thing and do not neglect another
one”. The interference in nature, natural processes, especially in Polish environment has been
so developed that passive protection would not work properly on its own anyway. If we
excluded the active conservation, we could not admire many species by now or in the near
future, including perhaps the European pond turtle.
Identification of turtle occurrence
The European pond turtle is a reserved and skittish animal. Its observation in its
natural environment is quite difficult and requires a lot of patience. The relatively easiest
period to observe the turtles is the springtime when they bask in the sun after the winter on the
tussock grasses or on the wood logs which are left on the surface of water. It is much easier to
observe them in the period of laying eggs, i.e. between the middle of May and the middle of
June-sometimes slightly longer. The females leave the bogs and sometimes migrate even
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several kilometer long distances from the source of water to their nests, but most frequently
these distances are between several dozen to several hundred meters. Most often the place of
laying eggs remains the same for many years, however, this is not the rule. These places are
local "hillocks," southern slopes, plantation, dirt roads through forests or fields, sandy verges
of asphalt roads or arable lands which are exposed to the sun as well as being well warmed
up. Sometimes they are only the small mid-forest glades in the old tree stand which cover an
area of several hectares or the area under the power line. There are also cases when of
building the nests in the backyard just near the detached house or in the orchard or on the wild
sand excavation. The observation in this period should be carried out very carefully because
the female which leaves the nest then is easily startled. The return of the female to the nest
may last from several to several dozen days. Such a long loss of time during the incubation of
eggs may result in losing the brood when the weather conditions are adverse (cold or humid
summer). For the same reason we should not approach the female and under no circumstances
can we capture the animal.
The good indicator of the turtles' presence in the particular area are the remnants of the nests
which have been damaged by the predators (Fig. 15). It is usually a small hole which is 12 cm
deep with the white eggshells’ remains which can be scattered within 1-1.5 m from the nest.
Plundering the nests by the predators occurs most often up to several days after the eggs have
been laid and also in the final stage of the incubation and the hatching.
Yet another method of searching for the turtles’ presence in the area is to look for prints which
are left by the adult individuals on the ground. The best places to observe such prints are
sandy roads and the ploughed field. There the prints may be very clear (Fig. 18).
Fig.18. The print of the European pond turtle on the sandy road, photo by J.Holuk
Active Conservation of the broods
a) protection of the nests by using steel mesh during the incubation
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Active conservation of the broods consists of two basic stages: the spring one (the period of
laying eggs) and the autumn one (during the hatching).
The spring stage is based on the observation of the breeding places, looking for the females of
the European pond turtle, observation of the process of laying eggs, protection and marking of
their nests (Fig. 19). In order to protect the nests the metal, galvanized mesh of the size of 50
x 50 cm is used. It is anchored to the ground with the rods from the ribbed reinforcing bars
which are from 40 to 60 cm long (Fig. 20, 21). Protected laid eggs should be inside the mesh.
A sheet of paper with the description of the nest or the female which nested there should be
put into the plastic ziploc bag in order to prevent it from getting wet. Then, we should place it
under the mesh in such a way so that it does not overshadow the laid eggs. Now, the nest can
be camouflaged with the thin layer of the conifer needles, the leaves and the sand. The female
can be captured to measure or to brand when we have the competent body of nature
conservation permission and only after the eggs have been laid.
Fig. 19 and 20. The nests of the European pond turtle protected from the predators with the
usage of the metal mesh. On the right there is an example of the additional protection which is
used in the places where the predators have learnt how to destroy the nests which are covered
with meshes, photo by J. Holuk
The observations of the breeding place ought to be conducted from 4 p.m. to dusk. The most
females appear in the breeding place between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. but there are also females
which come at dusk. The penetration of the breeding place in the period when the females are
looking for the proper place to nest, which is signalized by the upstretched head and the
observation of the surroundings, should be done carefully and from the distance and the best
way to do it is using the binoculars. During this time the females are very skittish. At the final
stage of laying eggs it is the right time to approach the female but what must be remembered
is the fact that it should be done with caution, as only in that way it is possible to evaluate the
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stage of the process and to predict time which is needed to complete the process. At this time
we can mark with the sticks the detailed localization of the nest using the method of the
equilateral triangle. The base of the triangle is composed of the sticks and the vertex of the
triangle is a place where the nest is located. When the female leaves the nest it is easy to place
the mesh properly. It should be remembered that during the warm day 10-15 minutes after the
female leaves the nest is enough time to lose the place where the eggs are laid and this place
could be very difficult to track.
Fig. 21. The scheme of the protected nest of the European pond turtle, photo by N. Juras
During summer the breeding places should be monitored. Camouflage of the nests should be
supplied and the protective mesh should be controlled. In this period the rods and the
protection meshes disappear most often. In the middle or at the end of August the sticks which
are 2-3 cm thick should be put under all meshes to avoid the mesh directly touching the
ground. It aims at creating the space for young turtles which leave the nest on their own. The
sticks can be placed in two different ways, depending on the expected number of the
incubation controls. If we assume that the control will take place at least once a day but the
best option is to control the incubation more than once, the sticks can be arranged in a square
in the way which will allow the young to leave the nest. It is the best way to monitor the
number of the young. The nest should be inside the mesh between the sticks. As a result, it is
absolutely necessary to monitor the nest since the young under the mesh are in danger of
being overheated in the sun or attacked by predators. In the case when we are not sure if we
are able to control the nest at least once a day, two sticks should be placed parallel to each
other and the nest should be in the middle to allow the young to leave the mesh on their own
(Fig. 22).
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Fig.22. Thanks to two sticks arrangement under the mesh the young turtles can leave the nest
freely, photo by J.Holuk
Fig.23.Young turtles in the nest, photo by J. Holuk
The autumn stage may begin at the end of August but it most often begins in the first half of
September. One should remove the camouflage and observe the nests to set a date of
incubation. The young turtles after hatching (Fig.23) are taken from the mesh and brought to
the chosen reservoir of water. Bringing the young to the reservoir of water is crucial,
especially in the period when the water table is low and the watercourse or the closest swamps
are dried up. Otherwise, the young need to cover a long distance during which they are
vulnerable and have little chances to survive.
b) nuisance of predators
Theoretically, much simpler method of reducing the loss in the brooding would be limitation
of the number of predators by hunting them. This method may be the only right solution in the
areas where the meshes do not work because the predators learn how to avoid the protections.
Such situation occurs in some breeding places in Sobibór forests on Polesie. In practice, the
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case is much more complicated. We must take into account ethics because the hunting would
be the most effective during the turtle's incubation period and it is also most often the period
during which the predators bring their young up and organization issues are of concern here.
Only particular predators who prey on the breeding places should be hunted.
The two year period of hunting the predators in Sobibór forests has had no satisfactory effects
yet. We can distinguish two probable causes of this situation. Firstly, the predators which do
not prey on the breeding places are eliminated. Secondly, the population of the foxes is
reduced in too small numbers when we take into consideration their whole size in the
particular area. To verify these assumptions we should observe the situation for a longer
period of time.
Active conservation of the breeding places
a) keeping the proper amount of sunlight in the breeding places (reduction of afforestation
and planting bushes)
Keeping the proper amount of sunlight in the breeding places of the European pond turtle is
the most basic method to guarantee the survival of the species in the particular area. The
breeding places which become overgrown with plants seem to be an even more difficult
problem than the loss of the wetland habitats even if from the local point of view it may
appear differently. The clearance of the plants can be carried out in two periods: in late
autumn- winter or during summer after the period of laying eggs. Moreover, two aspects
ought to be remembered. Firstly, in the breeding place in summer as well as in winter no
heavy vehicles that can destroy the eggs or kill the young turtles left in the ground for winter
are permitted. Especially, the clearance of the bushes and the suckers of the trees should be
carried out just above the ground to gain the best sunlight of the area. Most often people who
carry out the clearance of the larger areas of land omit the smaller and very numerous plants.
All plants which are removed should be taken from the breeding place area and managed
according to the law. The land clearance should provide the good sunlight for all places where
the females lay eggs during the whole day.
b) fencing in the breeding places which are in danger of being destroyed by the machines
We can observe more and more often that the breeding places which become overgrown with
plants makes the females lay eggs on the verges of the roads or even in the centre of the dirt
roads. The best solution would be to forbid the traffic in this area during the incubation period
but it is not always possible. Other possibilities include fencing off the nests with the wooden
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dowels to prevent them from being destroyed by vehicles or to mark out an alternative road.
The dowels can be put into the ground next to the nest or placed on the ground in such a way
so as to make the vehicle go round the nest.
Preservation of the migration routes
Creating an opportunity for the turtles to move between the places of their summer and winter
stay and the breeding places is a crucial factor to preserve the survival of the species in the
particular area. We should focus on two aspects of this problem: creating an opportunity for
them to move now and in the future, even in the distant one. In the first case we should
concentrate on removing the obstacles on their walking way and to guarantee the optimal
habitat conditions of the wildlife corridor, etc. In the second case the most important is to
analyze planning documents, for example, Study of the Conditions and Directions of the
Spatial Management of a Commune, Local Spatial Management Plan of the area with the aim
of establishing how to eliminate the possible threats to the turtle as soon as possible- that is
when the planning documents are in the process of creation.
Preservation of the wetland habitats by improving the hydrographic conditions
Preservation of the wetland habitats as well as the other habitats which are necessary for the
European pond turtle to live is a crucial element as far as the survival of the population of this
species is concerned. This aspect of the preservation is most often mentioned during the
conservation practices in the areas of Poland. Most of the projects which are realized to
protect the turtle are connected to a greater or to a lesser extent with the improvement of the
hydrographic conditions. Most often it is building or rebuilding of the ponds, stopping the
uncontrolled water outflow from the hydrographic basins by building dams or rebuilding of
the existing ones to stop the water. Projects presented in this publication are the affirmation of
this practice. The detailed procedure of the investment preparation to improve the
hydrographic conditions depends on the scope of the planned activities and the other
conditions, i.e. local regulations. However, the general scheme is very similar and may be
useful during the process of work planning.
The example of the correctly planned order of the initiatives in the investment process which
aim at preservation and improvement of the hydrographic conditions in the valuable natural
areas:
 carry out wildlife inventory (description of natural resources);
 carry out natural valuation (evaluation of natural values);
 describe the objectives to achieve;
 work out the idea of work realization;
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 carry out the public consultations;
 carry out the project outline and submit it to the right institution;
 obtain the necessary opinions and agreements (carry out environmental impact
assessment, if required);
 carry out the necessary technical documents (documents to obtain the permit required
by Water Law Act, building permit design);
 obtain a permission to begin the construction project (construction notification or
construction permit);
 select the work executors and the execution of the work;
 provide the appropriate technical and environmental supervision;
 reporting the end of the work (if required) and begin to exploit the object;
 monitor the achieved ecological effects.
Ecological education of the local community and the policymakers in the area populated
by the European pond turtle.
Nature conservation which is not supported by some initiatives including ecological
education of the local community and the popularization of the issues connected with the need
to protect the particular species or habitats does not bring about such effects, especially during
longer periods of time, than the one which is supported by such initiatives. People who are
aware of the urgency to protect the animals are more likely to give up on some privileges or
rights in order to support the more important cause.
There are many methods to achieve this aim but the best of them, especially for children and
teenagers, are didactic paths which have an adequate and attractive infrastructure, e.g.
observation towers, lookout points, announcement boards, footbridges, etc. Tourist
infrastructure makes the place more attractive for tourists and as a result the local authorities
express their approval.
The examples of the educational initiatives which are used to protect the European pond turtle:





lectures about European pond turtle, the threats, the needs and the methods of protection for
the adults who live in the area where the European pond turtle occurs;
contest organization: art, music, literary-which popularize protection of the turtle and the other
rare plant and animal species;
issuing different publications which popularize the need to protect the endangered species and
the natural habitats: folders, brochures, calendars, etc.;
printing small gifts to popularize the endangered species, e.g. bookmarks, stickers, pocket
diaries which can be gave out during the lessons and the meetings devoted to the protection of
this species,
preparing different kinds of gadgets with the inscription which popularize protection issues,
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e.g. the T-shirt with printed design, mugs, pens, etc..
III. 3. ACTIVE PROTECTION OF AESCULAPIAN SNAKE
Conservation – improving habitat conditions
The Aesculapian snake is a typical thermophile. Therefore, it lives in the habitats
which have an intense sunlight and where the thermoregulation is possible. Over the years, in
the Bieszczady Mountains progressive overgrowing of the half-open and open spaces has
been observed. Such a problem is one of the most important causes of the progressive
isolation of the particular habitats because of the fewer possibilities of migration between
them. Therefore, preventing the excessive succession is a key element of the conservation of
this species in Poland. Preserving the half-open and open spaces is based on the regular
mowing and removing the bushes.
Flushing the snakes out or catching them till the end of the work should precede the mowing.
People who want to flush the snakes out should walk on the chosen area from one side to
another or from the inside to the outside. It prevents the snakes from going to the central part
of the grassland where they may be killed during the mowing. In order to avoid killing the
snakes which escaped the area earlier one should mow the ground on the particular level (at
least 30 cm) not just above the ground. A good idea is to mow larger areas of the land, which
is usually a mechanical process, after mating season or laying eggs in August. As far as direct
mowing of the breeding places (natural or anthropogenic)- mounds is concerned, it can be
done twice in the season (at the turn of May and June or August and September). However, it
should be done manually and after flushing the snakes out.
Removing the bushes should take place before the activity period of the snakes, which is
between the end of September and the end of April, to minimize the danger of killing the
snakes during the works. Performing such works later requires much more caution. It is
similar to the mowing because we need to flush the snakes out or catch the snakes
temporarily. Removing the bushes should be carried out without using heavy equipment. The
branches and the boughs which are left after work can be used to enrich the habitats in terms
of additional hiding places and the places where the snakes can bask in the sun (Fig. 24, 25).
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Fig. 24, 25. The heap of the branches and the trunks after removing the bushes and the trees
in the area. Photo by K. Kurek, G. Baś
Improving the habitat conditions should not be limited to the places of living of the
Aesculapian snake. In many cases the places are isolated from each other, sometimes
completely. The isolation can be partially eradicated by preparing some additional glades in
the forest or lighting the shaded valleys of the watercourse which are used for the migration
by the Aesculapian snake. New glades should be located between the familiar places for the
Aesculapian snake in order to create a sort of migration corridor which links the places where
the snakes live.
Conservation – enriching the habitats
Enriching the habitats of the snakes is creating new hiding places for them which protect them
from the predators and people, appropriate places to bask in the sun, laying eggs and
microhabitats which are used as the food base, e.g. rodents and lizards.
Research which was done in the Bieszczady Mountains in the San Valley at the foot of Otryt
shows that the Aesculapian snake is often met in the anthropogenic areas, e.g. in the country
where it uses secondary microhabitats such as wooden buildings, organic waste landfill (e.g.
the branches, grasses, sawdust) and construction waste landfill (rubble, planks, slates, etc.). In
such places the Aesculapian snake can hide, hunt, lay eggs and bask. The structures which are
to enrich the natural habitats of the Aesculapian snake should be planned on the basis of the
research observations.
The rest of the work is based on lighting the habitats and the fragments of the trees and the
bushes can be used to create the secondary hiding places. The bigger the heap of the branches
and the boughs is, the better it is for the snakes. Such hiding places should not be located in
the centre of the open space but on the border (the border of the forest or the grassland).
Because of such arrangement of the heap of branches, the snakes are not forced to move in the
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open space where the risk of being attacked by the birds of prey is very high. The good
solution is to link the breeding mounds with the heap of branches or to locate the branches in
such a way that they are the link between the mound and the closest fragment of the
heterogeneous habitat with plenty of hiding places (e.g. border of the forest, bushes, Fig. 26,
27).
Fig. 26, 27. The heaps of stones, branches and the reproductive mounds on the border of the
ecotone, 'Krywe' reserve, photo by K. Kurek
A different way of creating the hiding places for the Aesculapian snake is making a stone
mounds. It is similar to the heap of branches because the bigger the heap of stones, the better
it is. A good idea is to combine two structures - the heap of stones and branches. It makes the
microhabitat larger and more diversified.
One of the elements of the Bieszczady landscape are remains of the stone walls and wooden
buildings. To make the walls useful for the Aesculapian snake it is advisable to provide them
with light which is based on the regular removal of the bushes and mowing (Fig. 28a, b, c).
Wooden buildings, especially these which are the parts of the infrastructure of the State
Forests, like shanties, utility rooms, wooden sheds, etc. should have the same form when the
snakes can be found there. All works connected with preserving such buildings can be done
but it is important not to destroy the habitat of this species because of the renovation. When
the building has to be demolished or modernized and the snakes cannot use this places any
longer there is an obligation to create a different structure in a similar shape which may be a
replacement for the snakes. It should be remembered that preserving the wooden buildings
applies to exceptional cases in the area managed by the State Forests inside the forest
complexes, therefore, the decision about preventing measures of such buildings should be
made after consulting foresters as well as specialists.
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Fig. 28a. Exposed stone walls, inside them there is a heap of branches, photo by K. Kurek
Fig. 28b. The mound and the heap of branches during their supplementation in the winter in
2011- on the heap the sack with sawdust can be seen. The mound and the heap of branches
are located inside the stone walls in the area of the former village called Tworylne, K. Kurek's
photo
Fig. 28c. The stone walls in the former village called Tworylne, K. Kurek's photo
All activities listed above are favorable not only for the Aesculapian snake but also for
different vertebrates, mainly small mammals and lizards which are the food base for the
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snakes. The mounds, the heaps of branches and trunks are also useful for different types of
reptiles which the Aesculapian snake coexists with.
The examples of the structures which enrich the habitats of the Aesculapian
snake :
a) the heaps of branches - branches, boughs and small trunks.
Such structures should be arranged in the neighborhood of the habitats of the
Aesculapian snake or they can be built when the forest works are carried out, e.g. on
the border of the clear-cutting area where the species occurs. European beech (buk
zwyczajny) Fagus sylvatica and Grey alder (ochla szara) Alnus incana are the best
types of trees to form the heap of branches. However, different types of deciduous
trees can be used to build the structures. The heap of branches should be at least 5 m
long, 3 m wide and 1.5-2 m high. 60% of the boughs and branches have > 20 cm in
diameter.
b) the heaps of trunks
The more solid structures are built from heavy trunks and boughs in the similar way as
the heaps of branches. 40% of the heaps of trunks consist of the cut trunks which are
up to 1 m long and > 30 cm in diameter and the boughs and branches > 15 cm in
diameter which are arranged in a heap on a circle base 6-10 m in diameter and are 1.52.5 m high. The smaller branches should be put on the heavy trunks. The other types
of such structures are more or less regular heaps of the heavy trunks (Fig. 26, 27). The
heaps of trunks should be located in the light places and should be combined with
other structures which enrich the habitat of the Aesculapian snake.
Fig. 29, 30. The heaps of trunks and branches, K. Kurek's photo
c) Structures (platforms) from the trunks and the branches in the area which is mowed
regularly.
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The structures should be supplied regularly with the straw bales and the hay in the large
area of the grasslands and the glades which are mowed. On the substructure from the
heavy boughs, trunks and branches the straw bales or dried hay are put. Such structures
must be flat in order to pile up the layers of the hay, which are the roof of the structure and
the boughs and the branches are to isolate the hay from the ground and prevent from
forming a tight anaerobic zone in the rotten material. The structures should be at least 8 m
long and wide and 1.5 m high. The boughs and the trunks must be relatively thick
(diameter about 20 cm) in order to increase the durability (Fig. 31, 32)
Fig. 31, 32. The platform from the trunks and the branches, K. Kurek's photo
d) the heaps of stones
The heaps of stones should be arranged from the big and flat stones at least 30 cm in
diameter in the shape of the cone on a circle base about 3 m in diameter and 1.5 m high.
Active conservation – supporting the reproduction
One of the most serious threats to the Aesculapian snake in Poland is a low level of
reproduction caused by the difficult climatic conditions. The Aesculapian snake ends the
hibernation relatively late (the end of April and the beginning of May) and begins the mating
and laying eggs later. As a result the incubation takes place late in the summer and at the
beginning of the autumn. In this period in the Bieszczady Mountains it gets cooler and the
first ground frost occurs which may lead to disruption of the incubation and the death of the
eggs. Moreover, the number of reproductive microhabitats in which the temperature is
constant and high regardless of the weather conditions is limited. The situation may be
improved by creating the secondary places of eggs incubation. The most common way is to
create the mounds of the straw, the sawdust and the branches which during the putrefaction
have the adequate thermal conditions and water content.
Consequently, the incubation can be finished and the young can hatch out. Firstly, the heap of
boughs and branches should be arranged on the mound. They are the base on which the hay
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and then the sawdust is put. When the sawdust is added to the mound, it is advisable to add
more branches. In this way we can avoid forming a tight accumulation of the sawdust which
is not beneficial to the eggs development because of the anaerobic conditions inside the
mound. Moreover, preparing the mound in such a way helps to create many spaces and holes
which provide a good ventilation of the mound as well as a hiding place for the snakes and
other small vertebrates (Fig. 33,34).
Fig. 33, 34, 34a. The stages of creating the fenced mound - on the heap of trunks and
branches in the metal hutch the hay and the sawdust are added. Then the mound is fenced
with the timbers, K. Kurek's photo.
The size of the mound is also important. The smaller mounds lose their properties quickly and
the snakes are less willing to use them. The rule "the bigger the better" is the best as far as the
mounds are concerned.
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The wire netting around the mound may be a necessity since the animals which take the eggs
(e.g. boars and bears) as well as people who catch the Aesculapian snakes for private purposes
penetrate the snakes' habitats. It is also important that the meshes of the net should be wide
enough to enable the pregnant females to slither through them. The fence around the mound
should be padlocked. It is an additional safeguard and when we open it, it is an opportunity to
supply the mound with new substratum after the old one is used.
Construction of the reproductive mounds:
a) The reproductive mound without any fence (parameters)
On the substructure from the branches and the boughs (European beech and Grey alder are
recommended, 60% of the branches used should be > 20 cm in diameter),which are at
least 1.5 m high, 3 m wide and 5 m long, 1.5 m of the hay should be piled up. Then, about
15 m3 of the sawdust should be put on such structure.
Fig. 35. Unfenced sawdust mound, photo by K. Kurek
b)Fenced reproductive mound
In the places particularly valuable for Aesculapian snake, exposed to increased human
penetration and the destruction caused by other animals such as wild boar, deer, bison, bears,
mounds can be fenced in two ways. The first involves the construction of a metal structure
lockable from the top, in the dimensions of 2x3 m, height of 1.3 m, surrounded by fencing of
logs measuring 3x4m, height. 1.5 m. Spaces between the logs total at 10-20 cm. The mound
should be built on the principles specified for the unfenced mound but to the dimensions
limited by the size of the structure. The second possibility is a mound fenced with logs with
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spaces of approx. 5 - 7 cm, with metal top closure in the dimensions of 2.5 x 3.5 m and a
height of 1.5, (Fig. 36, 37)
Fig. 36. The dimensions of cages for fenced mound, author: B. Najbar
Fig. 37. Fenced reproductive mound, photo. K. Kurek
III.4 ACTIVE PROTECTION OF SMOOTH SNAKE
Diagnosis of population status and threats – inventory and monitoring
Inventory
a) The search for snakes in the area
In the second half of the twentieth century, there was the view in a national herpetological
literature that the best conditions to seek smooth snake are hot and sunny days (e.g. Juszczyk
1987). Such weather conditions are undoubtedly very favorable for snakes, but form the point
of view of field research they may pose a holdback, because the reptiles are more hidden
during day when their activity is the most intense, they spend less time soaking up the sun on
the exposed surfaces, and they move faster while fleeing. Observations made i.a. in Ojców
National Park (Wiśniowski, Rozwałka 2007) and in Bieszczady Mountains (Bury 2009)
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indicate that warm, sunny or with partial cloudiness, but not hot days are convenient
conditions for smooth snakes search. Smooth snakes are encountered quite often also during
cloudy weather, for example, preceding rain or storm. For the best result, it is advised to
search in the morning, during forenoon hours, or in the afternoon. Binoculars may be helpful
during searching for snakes, for example, when we search in open but inaccessible piece of
land, such as rocky cliffs, slopes of glens, etc.
The area of potential presence of smooth snakes should be penetrated slowly and carefully, so
as not to shy the snakes. While searching you should check the various types of potential
hiding places, such as flat stones, rock crevices, boards, pieces of foil, sheet metal,
construction waste, under which snakes can hide. Please remember to restore all the structures
to the state in which they were found after controlling, so that the animals can continue to use
them. Snakes use diverse, ecotonal habitats most willingly (Fig. 38), so we can find them in
places such as the peripheries of the fields and forests, balks, borderline of various vegetation
groups, bushes, stone mounds, wood piles, fallen logs of trees, railway embankments, slots
under rail decks, etc.
Fig. 38. Potential hiding places of smooth snakes: 1 - tangle of roots, 2 – overhangs of land, 3
– clamps of grass, 4 – shrubs, 5 – stone mounds, 6 - heaps of stumps and branches
b) Artificial hiding places
In the case of large areas, for example, meadows, heaths, a search of the whole area can be
difficult. Moreover, dense vegetation and a small number of hiding places on the ground
surface (stones, pieces of wood) make it difficult to find snakes. In such places laying of
artificial hiding places can be helpful. To create an artificial hiding place it is possible to use
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fragments of roof felt, sheet metal, plastic plates, boards, tiles, eternit and other materials,
depending on their availability. The proposed panel size is 0.5 x 0.5 m, or 1 x 1m. Secondary
hiding places should be arranged regularly in the research area with up to 10 units per 1 ha
(Najbar 2011). It is recommended to do it before the start of the reptiles activity season, i.e. in
early spring, so that snakes can take them as a natural part of the habitat. These structures
may, however, be used by smooth snakes even after a few weeks of their placement in the
field, and the later they will be placed the more this period of time may extend. Objects used
for hiding places should not be placed in watery places, since it decreases the probability that
smooth snakes will use them.
The use of artificial hiding places brings the best results at the beginning and at the end of the
season, when the ambient temperature is lower, and prepared hiding heats up quickly and
facilitates easier reptiles thermoregulation. During summer, it is best to control secondary
hiding places in the morning/in the forenoon and in the late afternoon. Controls should not be
carried out too often (the same hiding place every day) because notorious shying of snakes
may discourage them from using the hiding place. It is advisable to use two types of artificial
hiding places – ones that heat up fast, and others that heat up slow (e.g. light and dark). This
increases the chance of finding snakes at different times of the day (in the morning – in
quickly heating up ones, during the day – in ones that heat up slowly). In areas abundant in
natural hiding places (e.g. quarries, rocky slopes, boulder fields) artificial shelter may be
useless. In Pieniny Mountains, on rocky slopes and screes use of these methods has not
brought the expected result (Rybacki 2008a).
Attention! If you decide on the use of this method of inventory, you should take into account
the possibility of penetration of land by people who exterminate snakes or who catch them for
private farming. Taking into consideration the possibility of such risks, it is advisable to locate
hiding places in places hidden or less frequented by people. Additionally, you can paint them
with the paint in colors that will make them difficult to spot (e.g. brown, green). After the
finished inventory the used items should be removed from the area. In order not to reduce the
number of hiding places thereby (especially in the case when smooth snakes start to use
secondary hiding places willingly) you can, in view of the further protection of this species,
enrich habitat with structures that are more durable and difficult to penetrate.
c) Dead specimens
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A valuable source of information on the occurrence of smooth snakes in the area are dead
specimens. Dead smooth snakes can be usually found on communication routes where they
die under the wheels of cars. The largest number of snakes are killed on the roads in the
spring. Smooth snakes show then an increased activity connected with the end of hibernation
and mating season, therefore, during migration and in search for reproductive partner, they
often go across communication routes. What is more, on the heated asphalt roads they can
soak up the sun and hunt for lizards. A lot of snakes die also in the late summer and autumn,
often including this year’s young snakes. It is advisable to look for dead snakes at least twice
a day - in the morning and in the afternoon. These are the periods of time when the reptiles
bask in the sun, and begin or end a daily activity moving into hiding places, what makes them
more exposed to be run over by a car. It is good to remove found specimens out of the way in
order to avoid re-counting of the same animal during the next inspection. The search for dead
snakes on the road is unfortunately burdened with some problems. Namely, dead specimens
may be eaten by other animals, e.g. birds or hedgehogs, and thus would not be detected. In
addition, in heavy traffic they can be quickly destroyed, or transferred over longer distances
attached to car tires. Taking that and the aforementioned reasons into consideration, it is
recommended that controls are carried out at least twice a day. When possible, it is advisable
to control the mortality rate throughout the entire season of snakes activity. Thanks to that you
can accurately determine the periods in which mortality is greatest, as well as select the most
neuralgic sections of roads. Please note, however, that the activity of snakes is heavily
dependent on the prevailing weather conditions, and therefore there can always occur certain
deviations, e.g. due to delayed end of hibernation caused by a long winter.
d) Exuviaes/moults
The evidence of snakes occurrence are also their exuviaes. Smooth snakes moult 2-4 times
per year (young snakes moult more often due to faster growth). The first moulting takes place
in the spring after the end of hibernation. In the late summer, snakes shed their skin once
again. Also this year's young snakes moult at that time. Snakes usually moult in hidden places,
e.g. under stones, in the heaps of branches, in dense vegetation. Searching in these places
increases the chance of detecting an exuviae. After finding the exuviae, you can attempt to
identify it. It may be necessary to use a magnifying glass for smaller exuviae. In the major
part of the Polish area it is possible to quickly determine whether found exuviae belongs to a
smooth snake, or a viper or a grass snake (Fig. 39), since smooth snakes’ back scales are
devoid of kila (visible on the exuviate as a dark line along the scales) in contrast to rebate
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scales of the two other species. In the areas inhabited by Aesculapian snake, that also has
smooth scales, other features should be taken into account in addition (look: Tab. 2.).
Tab. 2. Characteristics of domestic species of snakes’ exuviaes (according to: Głowaciński,
Rafiński 2003).
Back scales
(number of
scales in a
row)
19
smooth
Ventral scuts
(counted
separately)
Under-tail
scuts (counted
in pairs)
Anal scut
Head scuts
150-200
40-70
2
9, regular
132-156
24-46
1
many, irregular
19 rebates
Grass snake
153-193
47-89
2
9, regular
19 rebates
Aesculapia
n snake
195-248
60-104
2
9, regular
23 (21)
smooth
Smooth
snake
Common
adder
Fig. 39. The scales of snakes and the method of calculating. A1, A2 – ventral scuts; B1, B2 –
anal scut; C –under-tail scuts; D – back scales; E1, E2 – rebate (E1) and smooth (E2) back
scales. (From: Głowaciński, Rafiński 2003, slightly modified, with the permission of the
authors)
e) Surveys and questionnaires
Collecting the data on the occurrence of smooth snake on one’s own can be often very
difficult. Lack of encounters of individuals from this species does not necessarily mean that it
does not occur in a given place. In order to facilitate work in field, it is advisable to carry out
surveys that concern the presence of snakes, among the local community and the people
working in the area, e.g. foresters. The best way to carry out the survey is to talk directly with
people, and note obtained information. Thanks to that, you can avoid the risk that the
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questionnaire in paper form will be lost, or will not be sent back by someone who has
received it.
The most important data that should be collected is as follows:
- date of observation
- place of observation
- habitat where the observation was carried out
- observed species (description of features)
- number of specimens that has been observed
- observer’s names and contact
Unfortunately, it frequently happens that people confuse smooth snakes with vipers so it is
advisable to ask detailed questions about the appearance of snakes. Much of the data will be
inaccurate, e.g. date ("about three years ago") or the number of specimens ("a lot", "a few"),
but even such information may turn out to be useful and should not be cast aside. All collected
data should be verified in the field, because, as mentioned, it is possible that inexperienced
observers could have caused a mistake.
Monitoring
Monitoring of the population is an important element of the activities related to the
protection of the species. Collecting the data on a number, habitat conditions and threats
throughout the years will allow to determine precisely the actual population trends, and to
select effective methods of protection of the species. The monitoring involves regular
controlling of smooth snakes’ habitats over consecutive seasons with the use of consistent
methodology. The data obtained for each season is compiled together afterwards in order to
get a picture of the changes that might have occurred in the population and/or the habitat.
General principles of monitoring:
a) Controls in consecutive years should be conducted using consistent methods of
inventory.
Each method differs in terms of precision and efficiency. Consequently, applying various
methods alternately may lead to obtaining outcomes of different quality, and therefore, their
comparison is inadvisable, since it might result in erroneous conclusions. Sometimes,
however, the efficiency of finding smooth snakes might change slightly for other reasons, for
instance, when the structure of habitat changes (e.g., after enrichment of habitat during active
protection). Creation of sustainable artificial hiding places by heaping up mounds of trunks
and branches will lure smooth snakes. Thanks to that, it may be easier to find them in such
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places. In other words, the greater number of smooth snakes found may not only be due to an
increase in their numbers in relation to the active protection, but also due to their facilitated
detection. Please keep this in mind so as not to make mistakes when interpreting the results.
b) Controls should be carried out in the same periods of the year.
This is justified by the fact that the traceability of smooth snakes may vary in different
phenological periods of the species. One should remember to carry out controls in similar
weather conditions and times of day.
c) The number of controls in subsequent seasons should be similar.
The chance of find smooth snake depends on the number of visits to a given position.
Therefore, in order to make the results of the individual seasons suitable for comparison,
controls should be carried out with a similar intensity. The proposed number of monitoring
visits is 3-5 in the season. Particular places may differ in terms of ease of finding the snakes
so the number of controls should be adapted to the conditions prevailing in a given location.
Population and habitat parameters (based on: Najbar 2011)
a) Size of the population.
During estimating the size of the population, without personal identification, one can
determine the average or the maximum number of specimens of all counts in the field. Using
a good camera or binoculars, you can try the non-invasive way to identify individual animals,
which is useful when trying to estimate the population. Smooth snake is characterized by high
variability in coloration, especially at the front of the body (Fig. 40a, b, c, d). One can
distinguish between specimens of this species on the basis of photos or drawings of the head
area.
Collecting more accurate data on the number of snakes may require invasive procedures such
as regular catching and marking snakes. These activities, however, require appropriate permits
due to the legal protection of smooth snake. It is advisable to consult with professionals
experienced in the field studies of snakes.
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Fig. 40 a, b, c, d. Variability of blotchiness of smooth snakes’ heads, photo. J. Mazgajska
b) The age structure – proportion of young snakes
For a reliable determination of the age structure, it is advisable to plan the controls over
the course of the entire season, instead of carrying them out in only one period. It allows to
take into account both last year’s young, after the first wintering, as well as those who were
born in late summer or autumn of current year.
c) The degree of the position’s shadiness
The diverse vegetation is beneficial to smooth snakes because it provides shelter for the
snakes and potential victims. However, high and dense shrubs limit the amount of sunlight
that reaches the position. This is an important factor that may limit the possibility of smooth
snakes’ occurrence in the given area. Monitoring of position’s overgrowth over the years
makes it possible to determine the rate of succession and appropriate planning of treatments
aiming in providing more sunlight (removal of shrubs and trees).
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d) The availability of hiding places
It is a very subjectively estimated parameter. Generally, it refers to the position’s
abundance in lairs, assessed primarily on the basis of potential hiding places located on the
ground (heap of stones, debris, fallen trunks of trees, piles of branches, the ruins of buildings,
etc.). It will be much more difficult, and in many cases impossible, to determine the
availability of underground hiding places, such as burrows of small mammals. The use of
artificial shelters used for inventory can serve as an indicator of the availability of hiding
places (look: Inventory). In the areas rich in natural hiding places, smooth snakes can hardly,
or very rarely use hiding places that have been laid.
e) The abundance of food supply – lizards
The density of lizards can be determined by making counts along transects set earlier 3 - 5
times a year (the best in time of searching for smooth snakes) (Najbar 2011).
f) Threats
Various factors that may have a negative impact on the population’s and habitat’s state.
For instance, presence of pets (cats), penetration of land by humans (e.g. mushroom pickers),
grass burning, etc.
Attention! The nationwide monitoring of smooth snake has been introduced in Poland in
recent years. The full version of the monitoring methodology can be found on the website of
Chief Inspector of Environmental Protection (www.gios.gov.pl/siedliska/). The study is
directed mainly to specialists, and therefore, for the purpose of local activities related to the
recognition and protection of smooth snake, it is possible to focus only on the selected
monitoring parameters, depending on chosen objectives.
Active protection: the preservation of habitats’ sustainability and improvement the of
habitat conditions
One of the major threats for smooth snakes it excessive overgrowing on semi-open and
open space. Preventing succession (e.g. mowing) ensures the maintenance of habitat in the
state appropriate for smooth snakes requirements, and removal of bushes and trees increases
the amount of sunlight in the position. Mowing of meadows and xerothermic greenswards
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should be conducted in the same way as in the case of operations for Aesculapian snake
protection, taking into account shooing or temporary catching of snakes from the surface to
mow, and maintaining a direction from the center to the meadow’s periphery or from one side
to the other, not from the edge of the area to the center. After finishing the work, snakes
should be set in place where they had been caught.
The removal of trees and shrubs should be done in the winter or early spring, before the start
of the activity of snakes. If later, it is advisable, as in the case of mowing, to shoo or catch
snakes for the time of work. Boughs, branches and heaps of bushes left after the operation,
can be used for constructing secondary hiding places for snakes.
Active protection: enrichment of habitat
More diverse habitats are more beneficial for snakes because they provide them with a rich
food base and good availability of hiding places. Enrichment of smooth snakes’ habitats
mainly involves construing shelters and places to soak up the sun, that serve as a safe haven
from predators and humans. It also requires creating microhabitats used by potential victims,
such as lizards.
Tree trunks, limbs, branches arranged in heaps (popularly called "Heaps of trunks" or "Heaps
of branches"), and piles of stones are used most frequently for that purpose.
a) Heaps of trunks and heaps of branches
Creation of artificial hiding places made of wooden elements involves constructing the
structure using trunks, limbs and branches of trees (Fig. 41, 42), in which the dominant part is
formed by thick elements (approx. 30-50%) that is, the pieces of wood of a thickness
exceeding 20 cm. Heap of trunks should be laid in irregular stacks of height min. 1 m, a width
of not less than 1.5 m, and length from 3 to approx. 10 m. Smaller elements - the branches and
limbs, should be placed not only between the thick trunks, but first of all on the top of heap of
trunks. Tangle of branches will provide additional protection against catching and attacks of
predators. The base of the structure should be in, more or less, rectangular or oval shape. In
order to maintain the sustainability of heap of trunks, the following upkeep of them may be
needed:
- Adding new elements regularly when the old decaying trunks and branches perish
- Avoiding excessive overgrowth (and consequently shading) of piles of trunks and
branches
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Fig. 41, 42 Examples of heap of branches, photo by M. Piotrowski
b) Mounds of stones
In addition to the hiding places constructed of wood, it is also possible to lay heaps of
stones and debris, that are also keenly used by reptiles. Piles of stones should have roughly
oval base with a minimum diameter of 3 meters. The height of the mound should not be less
than 1.5 meters. It is best to locate heaps of stones similarly to Heaps of branches – in
ecotonal areas of significant sun exposure. It is good to combine these structures with each
other, in order to increase the diversity of the developing microhabitat (Fig. 43).
Fig. 43. Pile of stones and stumps heaped up near the forester's lodge. Habitat of this type
are keenly occupied by smooth snakes.
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Attention! Please note that the places where we collect the stones can be themselves the
places of smooth snakes’ occurrence. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that collecting stones
will not impair the quality of habitats, from which they will be taken (it is advisable to obtain
stones from the active quarries and goafs).
Of course, the construction of secondary hiding places described above is dependent on the
availability of mentioned materials. Larger, more diverse and complex structures are more
likely to be inhabited by snakes. Secondary hiding places built of stones and pieces of wood
should be placed in places that are sunlit throughout most of the day, especially in ecotonal
areas (glades, peripheries of fields and forests) (Fig. 44), and under high-voltage lines. Heaps
of trunks prepared and maintained in that way will serve as hiding places not only for smooth
snakes, but also for lizards (food base) and other small animals.
Fig. 44 Scheme of heap of stones and branches located on the border of the forest, along with
the approximate dimensions.
Active protection – protection of communication routes
Reducing the mortality of the snakes on communication routes involves first of all the
creation of fences along the road that prevent snakes from slithering onto the road, and
passages through which animals can move from one side of the road to the other. In general,
such changes in road construction are introduced for the protection of also other small
animals, threatened by traffic. In some cases, large viaducts are constructed in order to allow
the migration of large animals, which can also be used by small vertebrates.
Transporting animals across the road does not make much sense in the case of snakes. Snakes
in general do not have as intense and concentrated periods of road deaths as amphibians
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during spring migrations. In addition, routes may themselves be a part of the reptiles’ habitat,
and therefore they may occur in the roads’ vicinity throughout the entire season of activity.
Attention! You can find clear guidelines on protecting amphibians by transportation routes in
Guidebook on Protection of Reptiles (Kurek R. T., Rybacki M., Sołtysiak M. 2011) published
by Workshop for All Beings, available on the website in “Publications” bookmark
(pracownia.org.pl).
Active protection: empowerment of the population
Activities aiming at empowerment of rare population of smooth snake are difficult, require
appropriate permits, and collaboration with experts in the field of snakes’ protection and
breeding. Moreover, they should only be implemented if other treatments bring effects too
slowly, and the population is on the verge of extinction. Such methods may be risky, since
there is the possibility of errors in breeding, that may result in high mortality of snakes, and
therefore, the received effect may be the opposite of what was expected.
Empowerment of the population is defined as introducing the occurrence of the specimens
born in captivity to the natural location of this species. Such specimens are usually obtained
from pregnant females caught in the wild, and transferred to a terrarium, at least until birth
time.
If the farming is run properly it is possible to reduce postpartum mortality of females (labour
is a large energy expenditure, which often can result in death of the female), and increase the
survivability of young snakes by keeping them in terrarium during the first winter (in natural
environment the highest mortality of young snakes occurs during the first wintering). After
wintering and feeding, young should be released in the spring of the following year in the
place of the local population’s occurrence. Females are usually released after they have given
birth. It is advisable to feed the female before her release. It is also possible to winter female
in a terrarium, and to release her in the spring. But in that case we cannot eliminate the
possibility that her fertilization during the mating season will decrease due to the stress caused
by keeping in captivity and release. The alternative to this method is a long-term keeping of
breeding pairs and releasing their off-spring into the environment. Nonetheless, we should
take into account that reproduction of the same specimens may lead to the impoverishment of
the gene pool of already rare population. Besides, triggering the reproductive activity of
snakes in captivity can be difficult to achieve due to the stress caused by keeping in closed
conditions.
Environmental education
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Although listed at the end, environmental education is one of the most important
elements of protection of reptiles. Legless reptiles - snakes and slowworm are commonly
confused with common adder which due to exaggerated stories about its venomous, is in
many places intensely exterminated and killed. A clear lack of basic knowledge about reptiles,
their utility for humans, significance in nature, distinguishing of the particular species and the
need to protect them can be seen in the society. All species should be cover during educational
activities, including common adder. It can be even said that common adder is a species of
major significance in the context of environmental education, since negative attitude towards
this species has an influence on the rest of legless reptiles in the country. It is mainly the effect
of exaggerated opinions on the strength of its venom whereas in fact the threat posed by the
snake is inappreciable, and fatal cases of biting are much less frequent in comparison to
wasps’ or hornets’ stings, and domestic dogs’ bites. Adder’s venom is dangerous mainly for
children, the elderly and the ill, and frequently the attempt to kill a snake itself is connected
with a higher risk of bite.
Educational activities should target at different age and social groups. It can be realized in
various ways, for instance:
- lectures and lessons at schools;
- lesson in the field;
- educational boards by tourists trails;
- educational leaflets and brochures;
- articles in newspapers and on websites;
- photographic exhibition;
- television programs and radio broadcast.
IV. Protective measures undertaken in Europe and
Poland
IV.
1. Protective measures undertaken towards European pond turtle
In Poland, as well as in other European countries, the first action in the field of active
protection of the European pond turtle and its habitat began in the mid-80s of the twentieth
century. Initially they included only the area of Polesie and region of the Zwolenka valley,
then they were realized in Warmia, Masuria and Ziemia Lubuska. Below we outline a brief
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presentation of the selected projects of active protection of the European pond turtle in
Poland.
One of the first, pioneer projects in Poland, was "Active protection of the European
pond turtle in Polish" developed and directed by Andrew Jabłoński. It took place in the 90s of
the twentieth century, in several regions of Poland (Polesie, Radomskie, western Poland) by
the Polish Society of Friends of Nature "pro Natura" and it initiated many later projects of the
turtle’s protection. Its purpose was to carry out the inventory in places of the turtle’s breeding,
to learn about the turtle’s biology and ecology, the active protection by protecting breeding
lairs and habitats, farming and reintroduction of young turtles taken from the destroyed nests,
as well as educational activities. The result of this project was 26 locations and 6 breeding
lairs of the turtle found in Polesie, and 54 of them found in Western Poland, mainly in Duchy
of Pomerania. This enabled, beside the protection of these locations, the development of the
strategies for reintroduction of the turtles in subsequent years to the areas along the river
valleys. The results of the programme have been developed in the form of reports to the
Provincial Conservators of Nature which greatly facilitates the organized flow of information
and protective activities. In addition, 11 records of the protection zones for breeding liars have
been prepared.
a) “Active protection of the European pond turtle in Chełmy Landscape Park”
The project realized in Polesie, in Lubelszczyzna. It was inspired by Dr. Mark Keller of
Warsaw University of Life Sciences- an organizer of scientific camps in Forests of Sobibór
who drew attention to the size of the European pond turtle’s occurrence in this area. The
protective activities included the monitoring of the population, protection of breeding lairs
and turtles’ clutch from predators, protection of swamplands through water holding, and
widely conducted environmental education.
b) “Protection of the European pond turtle’s habitat in the Valley of Zwolenka river"
The project realized in central Poland by Mazovian-Świętokrzyskie Ornithological Society
Protective activities included: desludging of the existing ponds and digging of new ones of the
surface area of about 3 ha, cutting of trees and shrubs on an area of over 5 ha in the places of
the European pond turtle clutch and by torf ponds, cutting of cane in the reservation in
Borowiec (about 1 ha), raising the water level through the construction of two dams (steps) on
Zwolenka and on one of its tributaries, carrying out educational activities.
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c) “Protection of the European pond turtle in Warmia and Mazury”
Realized by the Polish Society for the Protection of Birds. The project involved the
protection of the European pond turtle breeding lairs in Warmia and Mazury. Since 2005, the
activities were carried out in the framework of international projects financed by LIFE
"Protection of the European pond turtle and amphibian of lowlands of northern Europe”.
During the program, ponds were cleaned and the new ones were dug, their surroundings and
places of the turtles’ breeding lairs were nursed, and new wintering grounds were created.
d) “Protection of the European pond turtle in the Polesie National Park (Poleski Park
Narodowy)”
Active protection of the European pond turtle in the Polesie National Park is carried out
since 1998 and it involves, among others, observation lairs of female turtles, localizing and
protecting eggs laid by them from predators, and, moreover, protection of the European pond
turtle habitats by keeping a high level of water, reconstruction of small, shallow bodies of
water in places of the turtles living, or removal of bushes in the lairs. In the structures of the
Park European Pond Turtle Protection Centre functions, the task of which is to care for the
young turtles during the winter. In the Park, there are also observations and scientific research
conducted in order to deepen the knowledge about the reptile’s biology. A significant element
that supports the protection of the European pond turtle is environmental education and
popularization of this species and of issues of its protection.
Contact: Polesie National Park, 22-234 Urszulin, ul. Lubelska 3a, tel. 82 571 30 71, 82 571 30
72; e-mail: poleskipn@poleskipn.pl
e) “Protection and regeneration of habitats of the European pond turtle and other endangered
species in Maskulińskie Forest Division"
The project realized in Masuria by the Maskulińskie Forest Inspectorate. The actions were
based on reconstruction of turtle habitats by building and restoration of small reservoirs and
the constructions made for damming up the water.
f) “Protection of the European pond turtle, the European fire-bellied toad and the warty newt
populations in the areas of Nature 2000 in the Western Poland”
The project is realized by the Naturalists Club in cooperation with forest inspectorates
working in the area of the western Poland. The tasks realized were based on reconstruction of
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water reservoirs, considered as life environment of turtles and amphibians, turtles' nests care
and creation of educational paths in the forest inspectorates.
The European pond turtle has been included in the active protection since 1980s, also
in many other European countries: France, Spain, Germany, Italy and in Lithuania. Within the
framework of the protective operations, after incubation in natural conditions turtle cubs are
taken from the territory and kept in artificial conditions. Most often in the next year's spring
they are let out into water reservoirs near the places where they were taken from. Owing to
this proceeding, mortality rate, which is caused by predators, decreases. Also eggs are
collected in September when the year is colder, which circumscribes the mortality rate caused
by the climate conditions. Restoration of the European pond turtle to the places, where it
practically became extinct in the ancient times, has been carried out in Italy. In order to
protect the turtle, it is necessary to protect all kinds of indispensable for its life habitats. That
is why in the framework of the turtle protection programmes the works are being conducted
the aim of which is protection and renaturalization of places of its occurrence (Najbar 2001).
IV. 2. PROTECTIVE MEASURES UNDERTAKEN TOWARDS
AESCULAPIAN SNAKE
Identification of distribution, state of population and living requirements of the
endangered species is one of the most important tasks allowing for an effective protection of
them. The aesculapian snake is a difficult object to examine scientifically due to its secret way
of living; however, in the course of the newest technical achievements and free exchange of
information it has become possible to know the biology of these snakes more precisely. There
are various actions undertaken in Europe, connected with knowing the distribution, specifying
the population parameters, the specimen’s areas and habitat demands of the aesculapian
snake. The examples of countries where such examinations have been conducted in the recent
years are: Germany (Waitzaman 1989, Gomille 2002), Austria (Hartwig and Mittelehner
2011), the Czech Republic (Musilova and others 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010) and France
(Lelièvre and others 2010). An essential element of the species protection is spreading the
basic knowledge and collecting of information on a current occurrence. Such role is served in
for
example
by
the
(www.naturschutzhaus.de,
websites
in
Germany
and
in
the
www.naturschutzhaus-wiesbaden.de/,
Czech
Republic
www.nabu.de,
www.zamenis.wgz.cz).
www.lasy.gov.pl
In some of the European countries, the initiatives connected with an active protection of the
aesculapian snake's habitats have been undertaken. In the Czech Republic, in the valley of the
river Ohri, the region of occurrence of a desolated about 200 km from dense reach
aesculapian snake population, the projects aiming at preservation of the habitat’s condition are
being realized, i.e. by exposing stone parapets, creating places of reproduction (mounds of
various kinds of materials fenced with wire netting, aiming at protection against predators)
and education. An active protection of the species, carried out simultaneously with scientific
examinations on its biology, has been undertaken also in France. In the forest reserve Chize,
in order to improve incubative conditions for eggs, there was a pile of hay made, where
deposits of eggs are being observed every year; they may consist of even a few hundreds of
items (www.bocian.org.pl/artykuly/waz-eskulapa-we-francji). One of the most important
European documents for the aesculapian snake protection, issued in recent years is „Action
Plan for the Conservation of the Aesculapian Snake (Zamenis longissimus) in Europe” issued
on 27th October 2006 in Strasbourg (Edgar and Bird 2006).
In Poland, from among the actions for the aesculapian snake protection, one should
enumerate the creation of the reserve „Krywe” in 1991 (Fig. 45) and working out the
scientific bases of this species protection (Głowaciński 1996, Głowaciński and Witkowski
1996). In the further years there have been attempts at creating the programs of an active
protection of the species undertaken. (Najbar 2002, 2004 a, b, Kurek and others 2010),
however, not until 1999 - 2001 the Lutowiska Inspectorate realized the program of an active
protection of the aesculapian snake habitats by improvement of reproductive conditions of
this species and preservation of habitats condition (i.e. the creation of 8 reproductive
mounds of the piles of stones and mowing of the meadow and glades in the area of the
reserve „Krywe”) (Kurek and others 2011). This project was co-financed by the National
Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Economy in Warsaw.
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Fig. 45. The view on the former village Tworylne in the reserve „Krywe”, phot. by K. Kurek
One of the latest initiatives of the Nature Protection Institute PAN in Cracow, connected
with protection and identification of distribution of Polish herpetofauna population, is reactivation
of „Atlas płazów i gadów Polski. Status – Rozmieszczenie – Ochrona” edition. There has been an
internet database created (http://www.iop.krakow.pl/plazygady) in the framework of this
undertaking.
The fear of snakes, which is unfortunately permanently existent in human-snake relations, is
one of the reasons for killing them thoughtlessly. A merciless extermination of the
aesculapian snake by human probably caused complete disappearance of a numerous yet in
the beginning of XX century population of this species on Roztocze (Bayger 1948, Najbar
2004).
Facing the need of increasing the social awareness concerning the protection of snakes and
overcoming the fear of these animals, 2 educational projects by the Main Board of Polish
Ecological Club in Cracow were realized in 2005-2007.
The first one, 'Educational programme - protection of the local species of snakes in the area of
Podkarpackie province', had a regional character. The other one, 'Protection of snakes in
Poland - educational packet destined for teachers on various levels of teaching' had the
nationwide character. The projects were financed by the National Fund for Environmental
Protection and Water Economy in Warsaw and by the Provincial Fund for Environmental
Protection and Water Economy in Rzeszów. As a result, 3800 educational packets were
worked out and sent out to the teachers from elementary schools, junior high schools and
upper secondary schools, which constitutes a group of about 2700 schools in the provinces:
podkarpackie, małopolskie, śląskie, lubelskie and świętokrzyskie. In order to evaluate the
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program, the questionnaires were sent out for the teachers. In total, 224 questionnaires with a
positive evaluation of the teaching aids along with the information about using them in the
further years of teaching were sent back.
Additionally, the aforementioned issues were promoted by organization of the nationwide art
competition under the auspices of the Małopolskie School Board and the Polish Association
of Pedagogy Animators Celestyna Freineta. For the contest entitled 'Not so scary the snake...'
(„Nie taki wąż straszny…") about 1050 art works from 356 schools were sent in (Fig.46)
(Kurek and others 2009, mat. unpubl., Kurek 2008 b).
Fig. 46. The art works sent in for the contest 'Not so scary the snake...', phot. K. Kurek
IV. 3. PROTECTIVE MEASURES UNDERTAKEN TOWARDS SMOOTH
SNAKE
The examples of the operations connected with examination and protection of the
smooth snake in Poland and Europe.
a) The inventory of the smooth snake positions in the area of the Włocławek Forest
Inspectorate in 2012.
b) The protection of the smooth snake in the Middle Poland in the years 2000 - 2002 by the
Łódź Club of Polish Society for Nature Protection 'Salamandra' in cooperation with the
Łodź Zoological Garden.
(the aforementioned projects were described precisely in the chapter concerning the best
practices of the smooth snake protection).
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c) Snakes protection on the Lubuskie Land
'The protection program for snakes and their habitats on Lubuskie Land' was co-financed
by the Program for Small Subsidies of Global Fund for Environmental Protection UNDP. The
project was realized by the Lubuski Naturalists’ Club in the years 2000 - 2002. The main
premise of the project was identification of the snakes occurrence (the smooth snake, the
common European viper, the grass snake) in the Lubuskie Province, protection of the most
valuable stands and educational activity.
The inventory of positions was carried out with the aid of the questionnaires concerning the
snake occurrence. The data gained from the questionnaires underwent subsequently the
verification in the field. 140 positions of snakes, in 14 of which the occurrence of smooth
snakes was identified, were found in the course of works. With the legal protection in the
form of ecological usage the positions in the commune Cybinka and in the Forest Inspectorate
Trzciel were covered. The attempt of setting the ecological usage in a valuable position of the
smooth snake in the region of Słubice hasn't worked out. Instead of this, a part of the position
area was bought from the Agricultural Cooperative Farm in Rybocice. Beside the field works
there was a number of educational actions organized, such as didactic classes in schools,
courses for foresters, a photographic exhibition, a printout of educational materials. (Najbar
2002)
d) The inventory of the smooth snake in the area of Cracow city
In 2011, there was an inventory of the smooth snake positions of occurrence carried out in
the area of Cracow city. The inventory was the answer to the appearing notices of this snake's
occurrence within administrative boundaries of the city. Two regions of Cracow were
included in the research – Tyniec and Zakrzówek. While the observations, smooth snakes
were found in a couple of places. It is a rare case of snakes settling in a city environment. The
smooth snakes were found primarily in the parts of xerothermal grasslands which have
remained despite the extension of Cracow. One of the inventory premises was evaluation of
the creation of protective zones for the smooth snake in Tyniec and in Zakrzówek. Taking into
consideration a significant probability of conflict situations appearance, the zones haven't
been recommended. The works were completed at the order of the Regional Authorities of
Environmental Protection in Cracow. There is an addition of information concerning the
possibility of the smooth snake protection being planned currently in this area. (Bury 2011)
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e) The grant from the Museum and Institute of Zoology PAN, concerning ecology and genetic
changeability of the smooth snake in Poland, with implications for the species
preservation.
In 2011 the realization of the grant entitled 'Environmental preferences, population
dynamics, genetic and morphological changeability of the smooth snake Coronella austriaca implications for the species preservation' was launched. The project is being conducted by the
Museum and Institute of Zoology PAN in Warsaw. The main goals of researches include the
specification of habitat preferences of the smooth snake, the chosen population parameters
and estimation of genetic changeability on the scale of the whole country and on the level of
chosen populations from the Solska Primeval Forest terrain. The results gained, beside pure
pragmatic value, will be useful in the context of an active protection of the species and its
genetic quota preservation, for example by identifying the differentiation of population from
various parts of the country and the level of population changeability from the Solska
Primeval Forest terrain. The research is co-financed by the National Centre of Sciences.
f)
A nationwide monitoring of the smooth snake
The project of the nationwide monitoring was realized in the years 2009-2010. The
attempt to specify the status of the smooth snake population from various parts of Poland was
undertaken with the use of a uniform methodology. Unfortunately, only an inconsiderable part
of the country was included in the works; however the results gained allow to specify, to some
extent, a real state of this species population in Poland.
In the biogeographical continental region the number of respective populations is
inconsiderable. Habitats of the smooth snake are in a better condition, which gives better
prospects for the protection. A part of these habitats has the anthropogenic character, which
poses a threat itself, as regards the human and domestic pets presence.
In biogeographical alpine region, the state of the smooth snake population is less
beneficial. The number of population is generally lower than in the continental region. The
state of habitats is relatively good; however, a significant level of the respective positions’
isolation draws the attention. (Najbar 2012).
The further editions of monitoring will cover a bigger part of the country. One should
express hope, that the program of nationwide monitoring of the smooth snake will allow to
specify precisely the status and possibilities of this species survival in the area of the country
in the future. The project has been ordered by the Main Inspectorate for Environmental
Protection.
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g) The monitoring of the smooth snake in the Netherlands
The project of nationwide monitoring of amphibians and reptiles, including the smooth
snake, was realized by Reptile, Amphibian and Fish Conservation (RAVON). RAVON is a
non-governmental organization consociating herpetologists and volunteers from the whole
Netherlands.
The monitoring of the reptiles was being conducted in the years 1994 - 2006 on 550 transects
in the area of the whole Netherlands. Each of the transects was controlled 7 times a week
during the season, and a single control lasted about two hours and it took place in the weather
conditions which maximized the chance for finding the reptiles. The smooth snake was being
observed on 59 transects. It has been found that it is the rarest representative of the reptiles’
fauna. Very valuable and curious data on the subject of detectability of the respective species
have been collected. The smooth snake, next to the grass snake, was found to be the most
difficult species to seek out (Janssen, Zuiderwijk 2006).
h) Sand Lizard and Smooth Snake Species Action Plan in Europe
In the years 2009 and 2010 the document entitled „Sand Lizard and Smooth Snake
Species Action Plan” was elaborated; it concerned the protection of the sand lizard and the
smooth snake in the area of Great Britain. The study includes basic information on the subject
of the sand lizard and the smooth snake status in Great Britain, the threats and protecting
recommendations. It specifies the possibilities of protection of these two species and it is a
frame for all the security works. Each type of the operations has been ascribed to a proper
scale (country, region, local area).
The study refers to a few aspects connected with protection of the species:
- legislation;
- active protection of populations and habitats;
- advice and communication between units connected with protection of the
aforementioned species
(e.g. local governments, land owners, media);
- populations researches and monitoring
The study is easily available in the Internet and it may be helpful while planning the
protecting operations not only in Great Britain, but also in the other European countries.
Notice! Full content of the document may be found on the Amphibian and Reptile
Conservation
association
website
(www.arc-
trust.org/Resources /Arc%20Trust/Documents/Rare-Reptiles-SAP-Aug09.pdf)
www.lasy.gov.pl
V. Description of best practices
V.1. DESCRIPTION OF BEST PRACTICES FOR EUROPEAN POND
TURTLE
The best practices will be characterized on the basis of three chosen projects realized
in different parts of Poland: in Masuria, in the western Poland and in Polesie.
Protection and regeneration of the European pond turtle and other endangered species
habitats in the Maskulińskie Forest Inspectorate.
The project 'Protection and regeneration of the European pond turtle and other
endangered species habitats in the Maskulińskie Forest Inspectorate' was realized in the area
of Nature 2000 the Masurian Refuge of the Turtle Baranowo PLH280055, situated in the
northern periphery of the Pisko Primeval Forest – one of the biggest forest complex of
Poland. The relief of the Masurian Lake District is characterized by a big variety of terrain
and relatively inconsiderable average yearly precipitation, amounting to about 600 mm. The
hills in the area of Baranowo, where protecting operations were undertaken, are included in
the group of the highest ones in this region and they reach 192 m above sea level, and the
remainder of the terrain ordinates reaches over 65 m.
The whole area between Mrągowo and Mikołajki has been known for over 150 years as a
place of constant occurrence of the European pond turtle, which has survived in this area until
the present times. There are observations carried out every year, aiming at localization of
nests, places of foraging and hibernation. The number of population in this part of refuge is
estimated at 30 specimens, but until now there have been about 20 specimens marked
individually, including 11 of them in the area of the Maskulińskie Forest Inspectorate. There
are probably a couple of nests where the turtles lay eggs, but reproduction was hitherto
confirmed only in two of them.
The drainage was constructed in this area, yet in XIX century and in the beginning of XX
century it caused a very big loss of the swamp terrains surface. Practically all of the
concavities and midforestry valleys in the forest complex called Cudnouchy, where the project
was realized, were joined with a net of ditches and drains buried in the bed. These operations
have caused drying up of huge areas of the forest complex, hydrogenic habitats degradation,
including mainly alder forests, water meadows and turfs. Also the surrounding turfs were
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included in the dehydration. The analysis of data showed that beside the lakes, a natural
retention had been practically non-existent in this area. Additionally, the situation was
intensified by the decrease of rainfalls in spring – summer period, and the ones which have
occurred had primarily the character of tempestuous rainfalls, from which big amounts of
water flow away and only an inconsiderable part of it seeps into the ground.
Further fall of surface waters could have caused a huge threat for places of occurrence and
reproduction of a number of animal species, including also the European pond turtle. The
protection of the European pond turtle and other endangered species habitats required then
inhibition of water in catchments. The Maskulińskie Forest Inspectorate worked out a
comprehensive project of small retention, and one of its elements was the preservation of
remains and regeneration of destroyed habitats of the European pond turtle.
Aiming at possibly best identification of natural conditions, a few studies were carried out in
the years 2005-2008, i.a.:

a natural-technical conception of small retention rebuilding;

natural valorization of wetland habitats;

valorization of habitats and species including the turtle, the European fire-
bellied toad and the warty newt;

soil analysis of nests used by turtles.
On this basis in March 2008, technical documentation was drawn up for the project
'Protection and regeneration of the European pond turtle and other endangered species
habitats
in
Maskulińskie
Forest
Inspectorate'.
It served for reporting the construction works to the district governor's office. Such quite a
model order of the worked out studies made a huge possibility that the built system of small
retention will factually contribute to preservation or reconstruction of the endangered animal
species habitats and it will improve hydrological conditions of swamps in this part of
inspectorate and in the refuge Nature 2000.
Members of the North Podlasie Association for Birds Protection (bearing the name Polish
Association for Birds Protection (since 2006), personnel of the University of Warsaw,
personnel of the forest inspectorate and the experts hired by the Maskulińskie Forest
Inspectorate took part in realization of preparatory works. There was also a constant
cooperation
with
the Regional Nature Preservationist in Olsztyn.
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Creation of swamp habitats and cleaning (deepening) the existent water reservoirs
Owing to the finance granted by the EkoFundusz Foundation, the construction works
were completed in the years 2008-2009. They were located in the area of the Maskulińskie
Forest Inspectorate, the forest district of Baranowo (Mikołajki district) and they included
raising of 75 hydrotechnical buildings increasing water retention of this area and
reconstructing biotopes of the European pond turtle, including: 6 earth ponds, 11 dykes, 7
rapids with falls, 48 stone rapids and 3 earth dammings (Fig.47). The dammings made have a
constant rapid of overflow, causing that the ditch above a device is filled with water in the
period of thaws or precipitation and the assumed level of damming is maintained for a long
time. After reaching this level of damming, there comes an overflow of the excessive water by
crown and it flows away through a ditch. The devices were often built in cascades i.e. one
after another; owing to this the improvement of hydrological conditions occurred on the
whole length of the course covered with the works. The existent drainage pipes were
unearthed and subsequently disassembled and removed in a couple of places.
Fig.47. One of the stone rapids made on temporarily flowing water course, phot. by J. Holuk
The earth ponds dug specially for the improvement of hibernation conditions of pond turtles
had the foregoing parameters:

the areas of about 500m2 (2 objects), 800m2 (2 objects) and 1000m2 (1 object),

the maximal depth: about 1m (1 object), 1,5m (1 object) and 2m (3 objects).
Only one place, where turtles laid eggs, was known in this region in the period of
construction of the devices which inhibit the water. It was located in private land adjoining
directly the forest inspectorate lands. It was proposed to the owner of the land to buy the
parcel from the Treasury, with allocation to the protecting purposes. In view of a huge
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difference between the expert's pricing and the owner's demands this transaction was not
finalized. The parcel was afforested in a short time and the nest is getting more and more
endangered every year due to the expanding shading of trees. In order to create a potential
nest on the ground of the Maskulińskie Forest Inspectorate, trees and shrubs have been
removed from the area of about 0.4 ha. The created in that way and well-illuminated surface
was in the northern side of the slope, between the swamp, which the turtles inhabited, and the
old nest. In the future it may replace the entirely overgrown old nest.
Realization of this project has improved very significantly the conditions of the European
pond turtle functioning by creation of 64 small wetland ecosystems, which were habitats for
this species. Moreover, the water retention in this area has improved significantly and the
constructed hydrotechnical devices positively shape the water proportions in the area of over
60 ha. Beside the increase of the habitat’s dampness, it is also important that water remains
for a reasonable part of a year, sometimes even for the whole year, already after two years
since the devices have been constructed. By reconstruction of a number of swamp habitats,
availability of the area has also decreased, both for people and for predators. Such state favors
the protection of the European pond turtle which is an especially shy animal. A number of
different endangered and rare animal species tend to occur in the area covered with the
project, including the birds connected with wetland biotopes, such as the black stork, the
crane, the green sandpiper, the spotted crake, the little crake, for whom the living conditions
have also improved. The changes occurring in habitats are being observed constantly by the
science workers from the Terrain Station of Biology Department of the Warsaw University in
Urwitałta. The studies carried out in the framework of a doctoral thesis, which aim at
evaluation of the rebuilt small retention's influence on forest habitats are also in progress.
In connection with the fact that the built objects were made in the depths of the forest, which
is the area not often visited by the local habitants, the process of their creation wasn't
accompanied by a common or special interest. The authorities of the Mikołajki commune, in
the area of which the operations were realized, supported the realization of this projects from
the very beginning, claiming that improvement of environmental conditions would improve
the tourist attractiveness of this commune.
The project 'Protection and regeneration of the European pond turtle and other endangered
species habitats in the Maskulińskie Forest Inspectorate' has not been forgotten, even almost
four years after its end. Pupils from the Forest Technical College and from the Landscape
Architecture Technical College in Ruciane Nida help the foresters to maintain the objects of
small retention.
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The works on improving the habitat conditions of the turtle are carried on by the Polish
Association for Birds Protection (PABP) by realization of the own project of this species
protection. Near the habitat of the European pond turtle, reconstructed by the Maskulińskie
Forest Inspectorate, the PABP will restore conditions in the nest of the turtle on private lands;
there is also a plan of digging another pond nearby. The next stage will be reconstruction of
two other ponds and nest on the other (southern) side of the forest complex of Cudnouchy, on
the lands administrated by the board of the Polish Academy of Sciences.
Protection of the European pond turtle habitats was for the foresters from the Maskulińskie
Forest Inspectorate the beginning of a big project from the range of small retention, which
included building of 310 objects in the area of the whole forest inspectorate. The finish of the
works was planned for the end of 2013. The project was financed by the European Union in
the framework of the V Priority of Operation Programme - Infrastructure and Environment
and it is a part of widely circumscribed operations of the State Forests, for increase of water
retention in forests.
'Protection of the populations of the European pond turtle, the European fire-bellied
toad and the warty newt in the areas of Nature 2000 in Western Poland'
The aim of the project 'Protection of the populations of the European pond turtle, the
European fire-bellied toad and the warty newt in the areas of Nature 2000 in the Western
Poland' was preservation and strengthening the populations of these three animal species by
maintenance or reconstruction of their habitats; in the case of the European pond turtle also
providing the isolated populations with cubs bred of the eggs taken from destroyed nests. All
the enumerated in the project species belong to the fastest becoming extinct reptiles and
amphibians of Europe; they also need water reservoirs of proper parameters for living and
reproduction. Local populations of the European pond turtle and amphibians are under similar
threats, among which the most important ones from the area included in the project were:

little knowledge about distribution and number, which led to destruction of
places of reproduction while carrying out various kinds of works e.g. afforestation;

degradation of water habitats - dehydrations, regulations of watercourses,
overgrowing or filling up small reservoirs caused the loss of reproduction places of
amphibians and places of turtles' habitation;

degradation of land habitats – as a result of overgrowth, the turtles' nests were
destroyed,

destruction of egg deposits by predators.
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The project was realized in the western Poland in 6 areas being the most important refuges of
the European pond turtle, the fire-bellied toad, the warty newt, which are included in the
Nature 2000 chain as the projected special areas of habitats protection:

The estuary of Ilanka PLH 080015 - Lubuskie province, Słubicki district, the
Rzepin Forest Inspectorate;

The Młodno peat bog PLH 080005 - Lubuskie province, Słubicki district, the
Cybinka Forest Inspectorate;

Pszczewskie Lakes and the Valley of Obra PLH 080002 - the Lubuskie
province, the Międzyrzec district, the Międzychód Forest Inspectorate;

Nature reserves of the Drawska Primeval Forest PLH 320046 - the Lubuskie
province, the Strzelecko-Drezdenecki district, the Smolarz Forest Inspectorate;

The Western Krzywińskie Lake District PLH 300014 - the Wielkopolskie
province, the Leszczyński district, the Karczma BorowaForest Inspectorate;

Gogolice-Kosa PLH 320038 - the area located across the valleys and the rivers
Myśla and Kosa, the Mieszkowice Forest Inspectorate.
This project was a part of international Lithuanian-Polish-German programme 'Protection of
Emys orbicularis and amphibians in the North European lowlands', which gained the
subvention from the European fund LIFE-Nature (LIFE05NAT/LT/000094). The Naturalists
Club had in this program the status of the Partner responsible for implementation of necessary
operations in the western Poland; the finance support on the Polish side was provided by the
EkoFund Foundation.
The rules of cooperation between the partners from different areas were figured out on the
work meetings, which took place in the beginning of the project realization. The members of
the Polish group used the experience of partners from neighboring Brandenburg, who led a
course on the methods of turtles catching and the usage of telemetry in searching of turtles'
nests and places of their wintering. Owing to the borrowed equipment from German
colleagues, yet near the end of 2006 the location of two winterings of turtles was discovered.
The subsequent meetings were led by the members of the Naturalists Club in order to
introduce the problems of amphibians protection and the hitherto results of the programme
realization to the workers of provincial offices, who are responsible for nature forest
inspectorates protection, which are the hosts of areas included in the project.
In 2006 - 2008 (the period of preparatory works and beginning of the project realization) the
occurrence of the European pond turtle in 15 places, the warty newt in 10 places, and the
European fire-bellied toad in 16 reservoirs was noted. Each caught specimen of the European
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pond turtle was precisely measured and weighted before letting it out (by the method of Fritz),
also photographed and individually branded. There was also a detailed characteristic of 28
reservoirs made, which were included in the project.
In the breeding season of the turtles there were observations carried out, aiming at localization
of the nests and also in the autumn-winter period, in order to specify the places of hibernation.
The effect of inventory works was documentation of nests in two areas (Rybocice and
surroundings of Leszno) and hibernation in three areas (Rybocice, Drawiny, Drzeczkowo).
All the areas in the western Poland where the species included in the project occur in
significant, presently documented populations were chosen for the improvement of habitat
conditions.
The preparatory works, following the construction works, lasted over 2 years; in order to
work out premises of the project, the expert experiences of the members of the Club and
people cooperating with them were used. Before starting the works, the Naturalists Club
signed proper agreements allowing for carrying out the works with all the administrators of
the areas (forest inspectorates). There was a separate technical documentation prepared for
each object, which is necessary for application to the proper territorial district governor, since
such course of administrative proceeding turned out to be a sufficient one as regards the
character of planned labors.
Creation of swamp habitats and cleaning (deepening) the existent water reservoirs.
Threats connected with deterioration of water proportions belong to the most frequently
enumerated ones for the areas covered with protection of the European pond turtle and
amphibians. Fast pace of swamp habitats loss forces the undertaking of urgent sanative
operations. That is why a considerable part of operations was focused on improving the
habitat conditions.
In the framework of the project eighteen small reservoirs (miniponds) were reconstructed or
deepened, which might have the function of amphibians' places of reproduction or the places
of turtles' living (hibernation); there was also one pond which was reconstructed. The depths
of dug or deepened miniponds measured from 1 to 2 m, and their areas were from 500 m2 to
2000 m2. In order to increase retention, seven dammings were made, which inhibited water
flow from catchment.
The biggest reservoir used for turtles hibernation in the nature reserve of the Drawska
Primeval Forest was made in the area of 1600 m2 and it is a part of a private fish pond of the
area 5, 5 ha. The owner of this pond has built a dam and thus, separated the area destined for
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turtles hibernation from the main part of the fish pond. The dam allows for maintenance of
good conditions for hibernation by inhibiting water while it is let down from the remained
part of reservoir for the winter. The other, smaller pond nearby has been reconstructed in a
similar way and there was a reservoir of 25 m
2
designated for hibernation. These reservoirs
have been deepened and there were also three miniponds which were deepened. There was
also a dimming made nearby, which improves humidity of other water reservoirs.
Within the biggest turtles' refuge, 'Ilanka Estuary' from among the known ones in the western
Poland, three reservoirs were created for hibernation, including one in old bed of the river and
two in the ponds which were deepened to 1,5 - 1,8 m. The ponds for hibernation were dug
near the places where wintering of turtles was confirmed. The three cascade-shaped dimmings
were made in the place located a bit further to the north from the course, where turtles inhabit
during the summer season and from which they come out to the nests. One of the dug
reservoirs is on the ground of the Naturalists Club, the other ones are on the grounds of the
Rzepin Forest Inspectorate.
Within the area of Nature 2000 of „Młodno peat bog” located in the Cybinka Forest
Inspectorate, there is a vestigial population of the European pond turtle. With the aim of
improvement of habitat conditions 3 miniponds were deepened. The works were carried out
on the peripheries of a big peat bog, in the neighborhood of nature reserve „Młodno” located
in the vicinity.
There were also two miniponds deepened, as places of hibernation in the refuge of
Pszczewskie Lake and the Obra Primeval Forest. The works were carried out on the grounds
of the Międzychód Forest Inspectorate.
In the winter season of 2006-2007, there was a female turtle found during the hibernation in
the midforest swamp, dehydrated by a ditch running through its middle, which is completely
overgrown with the sedges, the reed, the cattail, the willow and the alder. A considerable part
of this swamp dries up almost completely. The station is in the 'The Western Krzywińskie
Lake District' refuge, within the boundaries of the Karczma Borowa Forest Inspectorate. In
the effort to improve habitat conditions two dimmings were performed on the ditch, one pond
was reconstructed and one minipond was deepened as a place of hibernation. Yet six
specimens of the European pond turtle were observed in the next year.
The next important station for the turtles, where an active habitats protection was undertaken,
is located in the boundaries of the current West-Pomeranian province's area of Nature 2000
„Gogolice-Kosa”. It includes the valleys of two small rivers: Kosa and Myśla; also complexes
of eutrofic water reservoirs, rushes, meadows and lower peat bogs belong to the area. One of
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the most serious threats for this area is overgrowth of sand turfs, which are important places
of turtles' reproduction as well as changes of water proportions and its contamination. Due to
lack of agreement of some land owners, where the turtle occurs, there was only one water
dimming made, localized on the grounds of the Mieszkowice Forest Inspectorate.
Phot-13-14 missing Fig. From p. Holuk new numbers of illustrations, according to the
text, are the illustrations: 48, 49
Protection of breeding grounds
One of the basic principles which have to be fulfilled in order for the population of European
pond turtles to be preserved for a long time is proper insolation in places where turtles lay
their eggs. The two most important reasons for the loss of turtle’s nesting site are
abandonment of farming on so-called marginal lands and their afforestation, as well as the
natural succession that stands for overgrowing of not utilized lands. It is important to
remember that even after the loss of nesting sites, European pond turtles as a long-lived
species may occur at the certain area for a long time, providing that they have something to
eat. Such population, however, will be doomed to extinction. Preservance of breeding grounds
based on the removal of trees and bushes overgrowing nesting sites is in this way the most
important activity aiming at the species protection. Nesting grounds were not successfully
created on every area included in the project. Protective measures were undertaken wherever
nesting grounds were created or there was a high possibility for the existence of such sites.
Trees and bushes were cut down on 5 grounds of total area of ca. 2,0 ha, including:

Ilanka Estuary refuge, Rzepin forestry management grounds – deforestation on
the area of 0,2 ha on one breeding ground,

sanctuary Młodno moor, Cybinka forestry management grounds – deforestation
on the area of 0,38 ha on one potential breeding ground ,

sanctuary of Drawska Forest nature reserve, Smolarz for estuary management
grounds- deforestation on the area of 0,2 ha on five potential breeding grounds

sanctuary Krzywińskie West Lakeland, Karczma Borowa forestry management
grounds-deforestation on the area of 0,2 ha on one potential breeding ground,

sanctuary Gogolice-Kosa, Mieszkowice forestry management grounds –
deforestation on the area of 1,2 ha on one potential breeding ground
The real threat existed before staring the project that the population of species for which
measures were undertaken may disappear from the West of Poland or that its occurrence will
shrink significantly. The population size of European pond turtle in this region is estimated at
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only 200 specimens. Due to the project implementation, habitat conditions for European pond
turtle were improved in its biggest sanctuaries in that part of the country. Improvement of
habitat conditions is of great importance for other endangered species, like fire bellied toad
(kumak nizinny) and crested newt (traszka grzebieniasta) whose population increased in the
next year after project implementation. New water reservoir enables amphibians to continue
their reproduction and provides a place for living and hibernation for European pond turtles,
and breeding sites cleared from tree and bush fur boost breeding success of the species. The
creation of a database which simplifies monitoring of European pond turtle population, will
be useful in the elaboration on next projects and will help to stop the realization of
investments threatening the valuable ecosystems. Education initiatives will contribute to the
improvement of social knowledge of the need and methods for turtles and amphibians
protection. Database includes all information collected during project realization connected
with European pond turtle in the West of Poland: West Pomerania, Lubusz and Greater Poland
voivodeships): the description of habitats, details on observation, reproduction, morphology
and distribution. 133 locations of European pond turtles, 569 locations of crested newt and
1778 locations of fire bellied toad have been worked out so far.
The project was mainly conducted on grounds of State Treasury under the management of
State Forestry Administration. As it was previously mentioned, all works had to be approved
by the hosts of grounds. Thanks to the active help and kindness of foresters the realization of
works developed very efficiently. Ecological education of local communities played an
important role for the whole project. 12 lectures in which 550 participants took part on
biology, ecology and protection of European pond turtles and amphibians were held at schools
and in forestry managements. On the area of state forests 3 educational paths and 8
information boards were set on 6 areas included in the project. Every board shows the life of
European pond turtles during the whole year and other amphibians that the project refers to.
Except the main board, on the path there are 12 stops illustrating 12 months of year. Leaflets
with description were compiled and printed for every object and they are placed in special
containers at the starting point of the path. New touristy-educational infrastructure increased
the tourist attractiveness of these areas.
One of the main factors that caused troubles in organization is a difficulty in the field of
communicating among particular partners. It was caused by the complicated management
structure of this huge, multi-national project and relatively little experience of some partners
in the implementation of LIFE projects.
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„Active protection of the European pond turtle in Areas of Outstanding Beauty in
Chełm”
Areas where the project „Active protection of the European pond turtle in Areas of
Outstanding Beauty in Chełm” is carried out are situated in the East of Poland, within the
administrative boundaries of Lubusz voivodeship, in Włodawski and Chełmski poviats.
Considering geo-physical regionalization, it is the area of Polesia’s subprovince- flat and vast
land, situated between heights in the North and uplands in the West and South. The area
where protective measures are undertaken belongs to the valuable ones on the scale of the
entire country and of the voivodship, and that is why it is implemented in various forms of
nature conservation, e.g. nature reserves (Żółwiowe Błota, Sobowice mooors), landscape
parks: Sobiborski and Chelmski and landscape protection areas: Poleski, Chelmski i
Pawlowski. Majority of them is situated within the boundaries of special areas of breeding
sites protection Natura 2000: Sobiborskie Forests PLH 060043, Dobromyśl PLH 060033,
Pawłów PLH 060065, Sobowice moor” PLH060024. Significant part of the area lies within
the boundaries of cross-border, tri-country West Polesia biosphere reserve.
The purpose of active protection was to present various but commonly known threats for the
European pond turtle in our country: devastation of forest by predators, overgrowing of
breeding sites, dried-up wetland habitats. Increasing the awareness within a range of species’
protection was a serious challenge. However, while getting to know the local specificity in
this region, new dangers essential for European pond turtles appeared. One of them was the
building plan for water tank on moors, which were thought to be the important sanctuary for
European pond turtles and phoxinus percnurus (strzebla błotna) on the scale of the whole
country. The second was the huge single-family housing pressure that was likely to cross the
European pond turtle migration route (the one and only which is known in that surrounding)
from their hibernation and summer place for breeding sites.
Project carried out in 2010-2014 by Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection in
Lublin is in significant part the continuation of previous activities in the range of the
European pond turtle active protection and its habitats, implemented by The Polish Society
for Nature Conservation ‘pro Natura’, Sobibór forestry management Landscape Parks of
Polesie and the Local Initiative for the Environment of Chelminski Region.
Works on identification of the European pond turtle’s habitats on the areas implemented in the
project were carried out in different time. In the North of Sobiborskie Forests, research was
started in the mid-1980’s. Through several years of observation, the most important breeding
sites, migration routes and partially nature and habits of European pond turtles were
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identified. Captured species were specially marked. At the beginning of 1900’s, active
protection of breeding sites was started. In fact, methods of active protection of the European
pond turtle were mapped out right here and now they are in use throughout Poland.
Information and experience acquired significantly simplified the start of protection works in
2001 by the new group, which emerged from employees of Sobibór Forestry Management
and the Management of Landscape Parks in Chelm (ZChPK). The situation was worse in the
southern region, called ‘chełmski’ On the base of conducted inventory in 1991 and
information collected from the local residents, only single places of adult species occurrence
and only one breeding site were known. Since 2002, search for potential breeding grounds
and their control in breeding season has been started. Simultaneously, found nests were
secured by the use of wire netting. Since 2003 works have quickened because of the
formation of new group consisting of employees of ZChPK, foresters of Chelm forestry
management, inhabitants of the area and other members.
Fieldworks preceded organizational meetings and training courses as well as strategy of
conduct arrangement and establishment of the range of works with the Voivodeship Nature
Conservationist in Lublin. Necessary written agreements were accredited by Environment
Minister.
During several years of project’s implementation, a few proposals were drawn in reference to
the fund of protective measures, which were different dependently on time and conformed to
protective needs and financial abilities. Financial support for protective measures was granted
by Provincial Fund for Nature Conservation and Water Management in Lublin, SGP/GEF,
Landscape Parks in Chelm Management, Sobibór forestry management and Chelm forestry
management, Sawin commune and Wola Uhruska commune. The Strategic sponsor in this
period was EkoFundusz foundation. In the last period (2010-2014) activities connected with
active protection for the European pond turtle were funded by Regional Directorate for
Environmental Protection in Lublin and European Regional Development Fund within the
scope of Vth priority Environment protection and shaping of pro-ecology attitudes of the
Operational Programme Infrastructure and Environment.
Formation of wetland habitats
The area of Sobiborski Landscape Park is an ecologically-valuable region on the scale of the
entire country, particularly due to the Polish biggest population of European pond turtle
protection and the occurrence of the minnow- a fish that is registered in The IUCN Red List
of Threatened Species. Moreover, huge populations of endangered plant species like swamp
willow (wierzba borówkolistna ) and dappled willow (wierzba lapońska), dwarf birch (brzoza
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niska), common sundew (rosiczka okrąłolistna) and long-leaved sundew (rosiczka pośrednia)
occur here. All these species are strictly connected with wetland habitats. Natural habitat of
Sobibór Landscape Park, like the whole Polesie, is exceptionally strongly dependent on the
structure and density of the water system and the depth of underground water lingering. The
size of atmospheric power has a considerable influence on water supplies on this area. The
Landscape park is characterized by growing water deficit caused mainly by drainage
activities, regulation of rivers including the Tarasienka river and a long-term tradition to
reduce precipitation. Deepening deficits of water find their reflection in disappearance of
midforest marshes, rotting of peat soils and direct degradation of many habitats for protected
species of plants and animals.
The aim of the project was to maintain the exceptional high biodiversity of Sobiborski
Landscape Park through the protection of marsh ecosystems endangered with the increasing
water deficit, caused by its outflow through old irrigation systems. The basis for the active
protection were the results of research conducted by the interdisciplinary team of scientists
from KUL and UMCS within the KBN grant, requested by Chelm voivode (PBZ-006-08-96),
on application of Voivodeship Nature Conservationist in Chelm entitled ‘’Guidelines for the
protection of ecosystems in Sabiborski Landscape Park based on the optimization of water
connections in the Tarasieńka’s catchment’’ The aim of the research carried out in 1996-98
was to determine water resources in the Tarasieńka’s catchment and physio-chemical and
biological factors in surface water of the catchment. An analysis of the quality structure and
distribution of phytocenosis, ichtiofauna and the European pond turtle population was carried
out. Attention was paid to the habitat conditions that ensure the existence of protected and rare
species and recommendations for nature conservation in SPK were worked out. For the
process of work planning in 2001, monitoring of water level in 11 lakes located in the area of
SPK and its lagging and a land map for the use of SPK grounds, made on the faith on aerial
photography at a scale of 1:10k were prepared.
Before taking the actions by the Regional Directive for Environmental Protection in Lublin in
2012 on the area of Sobibór forest management it was necessary to sign the agreement
between two entities that would give the permission to enter the area and to obtain license
required by law (decisions on building conditions and a report on construction works for the
Wlodawa municipality). Technical project worked out at request of the investor was the basis
for obtaining necessary permissions.
In 2001, three buildings with adjacent waterhole of a few acres each were completed. All
buildings were equipped with the permanent towering and extra-regulation by the use of mobile
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closing, called stoplogs (Fig. 50). These objects were created at Rowek Kosynski on the Jewish
Channel (along with the strengthening of embankment on the length of 122m that blocks the
water outflow from Żółwiowe Błota reserve) and on the outflow from Buzornica marsh.
Concrete culverts were masked by the use of wood and stone, and waterholes were very
attractively and precisely integrated into the surrounding forest stand. Each waterhole has a
recess of approximately 1,5 to 2 m designed as a shelter for European pond turtles and
amphibians.
All the investments were built on the areas of State Forests, and even though the main
beneficiary of the Project was ZChPK, Sobibór forestry management partially incurred costs
connected with the organization of tender for services and the costs of new-made devices
maintenance that were taken over after the accomplishment of the initiative.
Fig. 50. Waterhole with the culvert towering the water made in 2001 as a shelter for
European pond turtles during drought, Fig. J. Holuk
Immediately after the completion of the construction works, towering devices began to stop
the water outflow from the catchment. Also waterholes adjacent to the construction were
filled with water. The situation was different from that of the autumn in 2000, when most of
the watercourses on this area had dried up due to the water outflow, lack of precipitation and
very high temperatures in summer. In June, 2002, in Kosynski Rowek waterhole, a few (1-2
years old) European pond turtles from natural incubation were observed. Direct and indirect
area of towering buildings’ impact was several hundred hectares.
In 2012, a repair of 420m embankment on ponds that play a key role for the European pond
turtle protection was conducted. Moreover, the only pipe draining the water from the largest
pond was renovated. Former ponds are located in the central park of the Żółwiowe Błota
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nature reserve (Nature 2000 Sobiborskie Forests area) and serve ecological functions like
maintaining proper water systems and preserving the place of existence, particularly in winter,
for European pond turtles (Fig. 51, 52). Former ponds are located in the central part of
Żółwiowe Błota nature reserve (programme Natura 2000 site, Sobiborskie Forests). Bad
technical condition of towering devices and dams (numerous craters, hovels, dam’s branches
falloff for water flow) threatened to break out the dim by the pressure of the high level of
surface water and dim’s drop from the catchment. The effects of such an incident could be
difficult to estimate for the environment. In 2013 works were being continued and the repair
of the next three towering devices as well as the repair of 150m dims on pounds was done.
Fig. 51, 52. Dims in Żółwiowe Błota nature reserve before and after the repair done in 2012
pfoto by J. Holuk
Protection of breeding grounds
One of the biggest threats to the preservation of the European pond turtle population in
Polesie are changes within their habitat that take place in the environment in a natural way,
e.g. through breeding grounds undergrowing and by succession or in an artificial way, e.g.
afforestation of grounds where husbandry is not profitable. The threat resulted from excessive
shading of breeding sites is eliminated by the removal of trees and bushes that shadow turtles’
breeding sites. (Fig. 53, 54). These treatments are performed when necessary, averagely once
every few years. They have been performed four times so far. (2003, 2006, 2008. and 2012.)
on several breeding sites in Sobiborskie Forests sanctuary and in Dobromysl sanctuary for the
first time in 2012. The total area where shrubs were removed is greater than 5 ha.
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Fig. 53, 54. European pond turtle’s breeding sites before and after care treatment. , photo by
J. Holuk
Nests protection
The rule of minimum interference into the natural process of reproduction was adopted as a
main principle for the European pond turtle active protection in Polesie programme. Particular
attention was devoted to the nests localization and to provide the safe place for eggs
incubation and their hatch as well as helping cubs reach their natural habitats (waterholes,
alders etc..) However, the possibility of interference into the natural process of recreation was
admitted in the instances of direct threat for nests ,particularly in Chelm region, where the
turtle’s population is more dispersed than in Sobiborskie forests. (Holuk 2004). In the case of
tumbled nests, eggs were collected and incubated in the Breeding Centre for European pond
Turtle in Polesie National Park. Polesie National Park implements the European pond turtle’s
protection programme as a separate activity.
In particular stages of project implementation, the team conducting the protection of clutches
were subjected to changes and adapted to the financial means. Generally, the active protection
of European pond turtle was conducted by two co-operating teams: so-called “’Sobiborski”, in
the North, and “Chelmski’’ , in the South. Both groups in the period of the most intensive
works cared for more than 20 breeding sites each. In 2001-2005, measures were funded by
own resources of forestry managements, ZChPK and WFOŚiGW in Lublin. The teams
consisted mainly of forestry managements’ foresters: Sobibór and Chełm, employees of
Management of Chelm Landscape Parks and other members, including a huge group of
volunteers. On a yearly average, 30 people worked in both teams. In periods of greater
financial disposition, like in 2006-2008 and 2001-2014, breeding sites were cared for by
employees working on commission. Almost always, employees were working in pairs in order
to ensure greater safety. The element that makes protection works more efficient is gaining
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practical experience by the individual members of a group. The best results are gained by the
work conducted by the same members on the breeding site for a long time.
In 2001-2005, the active protection of breeding sites was carried out on 9 breeding grounds in
Sobiborski region and on 6 breeding grounds in Chelmski region. The aim of this was to
secure with wire netting more than 880 nests where at least 2700 European pond turtles
hatched. They were transferred to the waterholes. It must be remembered that the significant
part of young turtles left the nest and reach water unassisted. These turtles are not included in
the statistics. In 2006-2008, the active protection covered 44 breeding sites , and on 37 of
them reproduction of European pond turtles was confirmed. These areas were secured with
495 wiring nests, and more than 3100 European pond turtles left the nests.
At the requests of Polesie Landscape Parks and Local Action for the Chelm Region
Environment in 2006-2007 as much as 10 new protection zones for European pond turtles
were designated.
Within two years (2011-1012) of project implementation by RDOŚ in Lublin, the active
protection was carried out on 7 breeding grounds ( 15 breeding sites in total). 378 nests were
secured with wiring nests where at least 790 young turtles left the nest.
Reduction of predators
Predation is a one way of the natural nutrition of organisms, so theoretically we should not
worry too much when foxes prey on turtles. Turtles have developed protective cuirass which
protects them from foxes quite effectively, but it hardens after 5-6 years from birth what
makes them completely vulnerable up to then. The serious problem begins only when the
excessive growth in predators population starts to threaten the sustainability of victim’s
population. Even more serious problem is when victims are the endangered species. Now, we
are forced to start the active protection.
In most cases, securing of European pond turtles’ nests with metal nets is an efficient method
of protection of eggs and cubs from predators. However, predators, mainly foxes, learned how
to skip them. We had to deal with such situation on two breeding grounds in Sobiborskie
Forests. During many years of active protection, various protective measures were taken, e.g.
installing the nets to the ground not with 4 but with 8 or 12 bodkins, installing the big net
(1x2m/3m) on the smaller one (50x50cm), the use of various repellents and their
combinations, but they turned out to be ineffective. When all the secured nests were being
destroyed more and more frequently, the decision was made to reduce the amount of
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predators. For this purpose, RDOŚ in Lublin signed contracts with hunting clubs for fox
hunting that were breeding in the neighborhood of breeding sites. The hunting is not carried
out in the closed season for foxes. Despite the fact that in 2011-2012 the population of foxes
near 3 breeding sites was reduced by 70 specimen, it is still too early to assess the
effectiveness of this method.
Maintaining the patency of migration routes
European pond turtle is a two-environmental animal. For the greater part of the year the turtle
exists in the aquatic environment, but once or twice a year it leaves the wetlands and heads for
‘land’ to lay its eggs. The length on migration depends on the local terrain conditions and
ranges from a few hundred meters to several kilometers. On the forestry or agricultural areas,
such migration does not pose a significant problem, but on the urbanized areas European pond
turtles are exposed to many dangers. Certainly, one of the biggest are busy roads where part of
turtles is killed, but housing estate development is even more dangerous. They separate
breeding sites from turtles’ permanent seats continuingly. Such situation occurred in the
neighborhoods of Chelm. Fast building development directly adjoining the town caused the
serious threat of building up the main, and perhaps even the only migration channel for
European pond turtles living in water reservoir in Stańków that connects them with breeding
sites located ca. 1 km away. So far, despite many years of the research, it is the only known
breeding site of the population. In order to confirm the role of known channel and to find new
breeding sites, research attempt by the use of telemetry devices was made. The telemetry is a
research based on tracing the animals with radio transmitters (Fig. 55). Observations are
conducted from the distance, and in this way animals are not aware of the presence of an
observer. Due to the huge amount of information that can be gained by the use of telemetry in
a relatively short time, that method is commonly used for the study of vanishing and
endangered species. In May, 2012, telemetry research on European pond turtles living in
Dobromyśl sanctuary and in the southern part of Landscape Park in Chelm near Stanków
water reservoir was started. In both of these places, quite numerous, local populations of
European pond turtles occurred. Simultaneously, these places differ in the type of European
pond turtles environment and the presence of different dangers for turtles. Telemetry focuses
on the recognition of their environments, identification of living area, traces, migration and
hibernation places. The main objective of the research is highly effective species protection
through the proper identification of threats. 20 telemetry transmitters were applied in the first
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year of the project implementation. The next 10 transmitters are planned to be applied in
2013.
Initial observations pointed to an evident trend of turtles migration through the already known
migration channel in Stańków. Turtles use natural overflow areas and wetlands in the
depression, the Uherka river, as well as a channel made by humans as a communication route.
They move over land as well. Gained information led to the very comprehensive but at the
same time long and difficult negotiations with municipal authorities of Chelm and the team of
experienced spatial planners that were preparing the new directives entitled ‘Study of spatial
conditioning and development’ of the municipality. Migration route along with the prohibition
of its building-up was listed in planning documents.
Fig.55. European pond turtle female with radio transmitter stuck out on its carapax., photo by
J. Holuk
In Dobromysl sanctuary turtles move in different directions and that is determined by the
availability of environments. In this region turtles reside in more fertile and deeper alders and
mid-forest waterholes. They move mainly in their breeding season. There is no need for
protection measures in the range of migration routes for the time being.
Education and popularization
One of the most crucial goals of the project was to raise the environmental awareness of local
communities, with particular attention to the communities that live in the direct neighborhood
of European pond turtle’s sanctuary. LAŚ association prepared a multimedia presentation and
series of lectures in two versions : for smaller children (up to 10 years of age) and teenagers
that were shown and held in almost every school near the European pond turtles’ sanctuaries.
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The object was to broaden their knowledge on European pond turtles, main threats and needs
and methods for protection. At the end of the 2006-2008 project implementation, an art
contest was organized for primary and middle schools. 430 art works from 25 schools were
collected.
In 2012, series of lectures were conducted for adults, mainly for the farmers who live near
European pond turtles’ refuges.
To popularize the protection of European pond turtle, folders about this species, t-shirts with
programme’s logo, bookmarks, stickers, diaries and calendars were prepared and distributed
as souvenirs for the members of lectures and meetings. On selected breeding sites huge
information boards with photos that make the topic clear were installed.
V. 2. DESCRIPTION OF BEST PRACTICES FOR AESKULAPIAN
SNAKE
Aeskulapian snake is a vanishing species with the poorly recognized occurrence. The
largest Polish population of the species is in the central part of the Bieszczady Mountains, in
the valley of San river, in the neighborhood of the Otryt mountain range, from the region
Dwernik/Dwerniczka-Chmiela to Rajski. Apart from that place, few populations isolated
from one another occur mainly around Soliński lagoon. The main causes for the current
condition of population are as follows: killing, progressive succession on the population
area, lack of places for incubation (natural or anthropogenical). Due to the critical condition
of population, it was necessary to take actions the main aims of which were its maintenance
and expanding and preservance of the proper structure of habitats.
The example of the best practices that refer to Aeskulapian snake protection is the project
entitled: „Active protection of habitats and the recognition of Zamenis longissimus
Aeskulapian snake habitat’s condition in the West Bieszczady’’ carried out in 2009. The
basis for project planning were provided by Lutowisko forestry management’s experiences
from 1999 in the field of the creation of breeding sites, the exposure of ledges, forest glades’
clearing and removal of natural forest succession as well as available elaborations. (Najbar
2004a 2004b, Błażuk 2007). The project lasted a year and was funded in 85% by EkoFundusz
foundation and The Regional Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in
Rzeszów. The project was implemented by the employees of the Institute of Conservation
PAN in Kraków in strict collaboration with a specialist, dr B. Najbar from Zielona Gora
University and Lutowisko forestry management.
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Before applying for the fund of the project, it was necessary to identify threats, distribution of
the population and methods for active protection of the species. (Kurek 2008a). On the basis
of literature data, the first collective map of species distribution that served as a base for
inventory exercises was drawn. Beside literature review, consultations with specialists and
Lutowisko forestry management employees who were involved in the first project of the
protection of species were held. Thereby, the area of identification of population distribution
was mapped out. On the grounds of collected information and awareness of species life needs,
inventory exercises were mapped out for the area across the whole of the Western Bieszczady,
and measures connected with active protection were located in the region of the most
numerous population of Aeskulapian snake in the San valley of the Otryt range.
Key tasks and project implementation
1. Aeskulapian snake’s habitats marking for the active protection in Krywe reserve, its
immediate vicinity and the inventory of new habitats.
Locations where active protection was performed were marked according to literature data,
consultations with specialists, employees of Lutowisko forestry management and direct
observations were made as part of conducted inventory. On the basis of published
elaborations, 4 main regions of Aeskulapian snake occurrence were identified. Field research,
along with the inventory, helped to find habitats where active protection in 1999 was
performed. In 2009, only remains of the activities were fund in the form of stones (Fig.56)
and several other places of Aeskulapian snake’s occurrence. As a result, activities of active
protection like building of mounds made of stones and sawdust were planned for 17 locations,
5 of which coincide with the habitats from 1999 on grounds of possibility of snakes’
occurrence on these areas. By the use of GPS, bearings of locations, measures, microhabitats,
potential and actual place of occurrence were taken. Collected information were used for the
preparation of maps presenting the distribution of measures and actual occurrence of
Aeskulapian snake.
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Fig. 56. In 2009, remains of Aeskulapian Snake active protection from 1999 were found in a
form of mounds of stones., photo by K. Kurek
2. Implementation of active protection of Aeskulapian snake’s habitats
In June, 1009, the construction of the first breeding mounds was started. The next 5 mounds
were to be built in other regions, based on consultations and visitations in the forest. The
mounds were monitored permanently. At the same time, the inventory was being continued
for the identification of the next locations of measures. For every habitat, maps of measures
were designed and you can see it on Fig. 57.
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(The tags in this drawing: Tworylne Mistrz-Tworylne Mistrz Str. 1-page 1, Zabiegi i obiekty
na stanowisku-Actions and objects within the position, Wykaszanie-mowing, Gałęziowiskoheap of branches, Odkrzaczanie-descrubbing, Pniakowisko-heap of trunks, Kopiec-Mound,
Piwnice, studnie-cellar, wells, Sterta kamieni- heap of stones, Km-km)
New breeding sites were located in accordance with the requirements of the species in places
of direct observations and habitats occupied by Aeskulapian snake known from a few years
ago, and experimentally in places chosen in a way so that isolation of distant habitats can be
broken through.
Attention! It should be noted that some of the measures, according to the obtained
permissions, were being conducted in the season of the species’ activity. Such situation was an
exception. Now, it is essential to meet the late autumn, winter and early spring deadlines of
the measures.
29 breeding mounds were piled up in 17 locations, The area of 2 ha was removed from bushes
and 32 ha of meadows were mowed in the former Trywolne village. On exposure areas, a part
of the materials from trees and bushes cut down were used for the formation of additional
structures like heap of trunks and heap of branches.
3. Inventory and monitoring of Aeskulapian snake’s habitats in the Otryt range
a) Inventories of Aeskulapian snake’s habitats
Considering the poor recognition of Aeskulapian snake’s distribution, a precise inventory
through the direct observations of habitats in the area of the occurrence of the most dense
population was planned. Outside that region, on the area of the Bieszczady Mountains,
inventory works were based on the review and analysis of literature data, surveys and
interviews with State Forests employees and residents of the area and, if possible, verification
of information directly in the field. The purpose of the inventory was not only to identify the
distribution of the population, but also the determination of new places for further active and
zonal protection.
Methods of conducted inventory works
Direct observations were conducted in areas where snakes can potentially appear, i.e. in the
vicinity of mounds, ruins of old buildings, rocky and sunny river shores, quarries, old wooden
buildings, composters etc. The whole valley of the San River (with its tributaries), berms and
clearings from the Chmiel village to Rajskie and the region of Zatwarnica village were
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penetrated in detail. During the stocktaking, rangers, local residents, forest workers and
tourists were directly interviewed. During the interviews, the respondents were asked about
the place and date of meeting the snakes, characteristic features distinguishing a species,
characteristics of dwellings and approximate length of specimens. News about appearances of
the Aesculapian snake was considered credible when the information provided mentioned
seeing the snakes high up on trees because this species climbs very well. The interviews were
held mainly in the region of “Krzywe” nature reserve and in the area of surrounding forest
inspectorates from Lutowiska and Baligród forest districts, and the acquired information was
verified with direct observation in the field.
The polls, directed mainly at the workers of the State Forests, consisted of questions
concerning location, approximate date of observation and size of observed specimens. The
poll forms were distributed in the following forest inspectorates: Komańcza, Cisna, Lesko,
Wetlina, Stuposiany, Baligród, and Ustrzyki Górne (Fig. 58). The most credible information
acquired from the polls was verified in the whole Western Bieszczady Mountains. During the
inventory works, information about dead snakes was gathered as well.
Day and hour of
observation
Name and surname:
Contact (telephone,
email)
Name/Description of
location:
Place
of
(superintendency,
forestry, branch / sub-unit)
(ie. trunks,
walls, branches, limbs, hives, wooden
buildings, compost piles of rubbish)
observation
Species:
Number
of
specimens:
Condition
of
alive/dead/ecdysis/eggs
specimen
Young/adult
Size (age)
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Fig. 58 Examplary form for data collection about appearances of the Aesculapian snake
Results of the inventory
As a result of conducted direct interviews, data about 50 encounters with snakes was
acquired, and as a result of polls - about 17. Information about appearances concerned both
the current observations and the historical ones, pointing at a wider reach of the species in the
past years. Data obtained was divided into credibility categories, based on the subjective
assessment of the respondents’ skills for distinguishing the Aesculapian snake from other
species. Because of frequent mistaking of the Aesculapian snake (Fig. 59b) for the melanin
version of the grass snake appearing in the Bieszczady Mountains (Fig. 59a), info obtained
from outsiders is currently considered solid when it concerns dead specimens, photos of live
specimen, and the snakes’ casts.
Fig. 59a. Melanin version of the grass snake, often mistaken for the Aesculapian snake, photo
by K. Kurek.
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Fig. 59b. The Aesculapian snake, photo by G. Baś
b) monitoring of the effects of active protection and population regulation of the Aesculapian
snake
The evaluation of the effects of active protection of the dwellings was carried out in the most
intense period of activity of the Aesculapian snake. During the realization of this task, an
attempt to assess the snakes’ usage of mounds and researched connected with assessing the
parameters of the population, such as: number, age and sex structure (through observation
and, as much as possible, catching and labelling them) was started. Data was collected at 20
sites selected for this undertaking (17 locations with mounds and 3 in the region of
Zatwarnica village).
Methods of conducted monitoring works
 Means of conducting direct observations
Due to protective coloration and a secretive lifestyle, the Aesculapian snake is a hard to
observe species. The most known methods of observing those snake is the “stalking” method,
i.e. careful observation of known and potential places of appearance. The research was taken
on sunny (but not hot) days, during the biggest activity time of the snakes, i.e. especially
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Apart from sunny weather, observation could have been carried out
also during warm days with clouded sky because snakes are active then as well.
During the works, items that are potential hiding spots for snakes (planks, rocks, trunks, felt,
foil, etc.) were checked. Also, stone ruins, wooden buildings and bridge abutments were
penetrated. Places that were hard to get to, like cliffs, shores of watercourses and quarries had
to be observed only from a higher-situated post. In such cases, the observation concerned
mainly sunny rifts, hideouts near depressions, on the edge of rocks and vegetation
associations (Najbar 2012).
On surfaces overgrown with dense herbaceous vegetation and deprived of elements
facilitating finding of snakes in order to obtain more accurate data, in the area of monitored
surfaces several pieces of felt were arranged on sawdust mounds. The snakes keenly used
them as hiding spots (Fig. 60, 61).
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Fig. 60, 61. Pieces of felt were put on the mounds, making the monitoring works easier,
photos by K.
Attention! The fact that snakes are caught by poachers should be borne in mind; therefore,
pieces of felt can be placed only in places with human limited penetration.
The best time to observe the Aesculapian snake is early spring, especially in the period of
large differences in temperature between day and night - in the early hours, the rise in
temperature activates the snakes and it is easier to observe them at the moment of leaving
their hideouts, e.g. mounds and clusters of branches (Fig. 62). Limited growth of vegetation in
this period also made it easier to spot the snakes. Late summer and, depending on the weather,
early autumn days made it possible to observe young (this year’s) specimens, which are still
quite active at this time of the year. Due to randomness of observation, as well as the large
area of monitoring, counting the sakes took several or even over a dozen days.
Fig. 62a, b. The Aesculapian snake on a branch cluster and on a mound, photo by K. Kurek
 Methods of assessing the parameters of the population
In order to assess the size of the population, the standard zoological “capture mark recapture”
method of counting was used. This method is based on capturing, labelling and releasing
specimens in a strictly definite research area, and then on re-catching. The assessment of the
size of the population is based on the proportion of labelled specimens caught in consecutive
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re-catchings. In the case of the Aesculapian snake, particular specimens were identified on the
basis of their individual characteristics (irregularities of scales, injuries, scars, incisions on the
abdominal scale etc.), (Fig. 63, 64). After catching, a photo documentation of specimens was
created (especially scales and head anomalies). Data from the observation (day, hour, place of
observation, observer, approximate length/age of specimen) was recorded in the appropriate
form.
Fig. 63, 64. Anomalies in the scales on the abdominal side of the Aesculapian snake’s body
(an additional scale near the anal scales - picture on the left; a scar on the tail - picture on
the right) making it easier to identify specimens in the case of re-catching them, photos by K.
Kurek
Re-caught snakes were subject to measurement of the following morphologic characteristics:
1. Total length [cm] (3 measures with a tape)
2. Length of tail [cm] (1 measure)
3. Weight [g], using the PESOLA scale
4. Length and width of the head [mm]
5. Number of abdominal scales
6. Number of caudal scales
After collection the abovementioned data, the snake was released in the exact spot of
capturing him in order to minimise the amount of stress of the animal (fg. 65, 66).
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Fig. 65, 66. After measuring, the snakes are released in the place of capture, photo by K.
Kurek
Attention! It should be remembered that in order to perform activities connected with being
near areas of procreation, capturing, labelling etc., appropriate permissions (personal in the
case of i.a. being in the protection zones and capturing the specimens) and administrative
decisions are needed. Those activities can be performed only by specialists or under their
direct supervision!
Traces of being in the form of casts and egg shells are also a sign of the species’ presence.
Identification of a specimen is sometimes possible on the basis of its cast. Due to the secretive
lifestyle of the Aesculapian snake, casts not only are highly important for the monitoring of
the population but also they are sometimes the only proof of the species’ presence in a given
area. Casts and egg shells are placed in paper envelopes (individually), and then the envelopes
are described. Information that should be present on the envelopes are: the person who has
collected the cast, day and place of finding it (name, geographical coordinates or GPS code).
Results of monitoring
As a result of field works that were carried out, 13 specimens of the Aesculapian snake were
captured and measures. Also, one dead Aesculapian snake was found, as well as 23 direct
observations were made and 10 casts were collected.
Almost all created mounds, right after creating them, were inhabited by other reptiles
appearing in the region, mostly sand lizards Lacerta agilis, slow worms Anguis fragilis and
grass snakes. The Aesculapian snake was not seen during the conducted works. Some
specimens and traces of their presence in the form of casts were seen and collected in the
direct vicinity of 5 mounds.
5. Creating maps of sites and distribution of the Aesculapian snake in the Western
Carpathians.
As a part of the project, creation of the map of current distribution of the Aesculapian snake,
based on the results of the already mentioned inventory and literature data (Fig. 67), was
planned. Moreover, maps of taken measures and dwellings were made. Those maps were
created using the GIS system and digital map base (orthophotomaps from 2002) and
ultimately consisted of the following thematic layers:
- places of observation of the Aesculapian snake,
- open spaces (clearings, grasslands), with mowing areas marked,
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- areas of afforestation and thick bushes, with de-bushing areas marked,
- ruins of buildings,
- distribution of mounds.
Rozmieszczenie stanowisk węża Eskulapa Zamenis Iongis imus na tle jednostek
fizjograficznych Kondrackiego-Location of Aesculapian snake’s positions Zamenis Iongis
imus compared to phisiographic units of Kondracki
Aktualności i pewność danych- News and data validity
Dane niepewne-Unverified data
Dane pewne-Verified data
Granice jednostek fizjograficznych-Borders of phisiographic data
Fig. 67. Map of distribution of the Aesculapian snake based on literature data, interviews,
polls and direct observations, created at the end of the project, compiled by K. Najberek, IOP
PAN, Krakow
6. Creation of strategy of protection of the Aesculapian snake for the Western Carpathians.
Inventory of the sites and the initial evaluation of the species’ reaction to active protection of
its dwellings became the basis for creating the strategy of protection of the Aesculapian snake.
The aim of it was to give recommendation for further protection of the Aesculapian snake in
the last places of its presence in the Western Carpathians through:
- creation of general planks based on existent legal footing,
- presentation of results of inventory of sites and active protection of dwellings of the
Aesculapian snake,
- marking areas of monitoring areas of potential appearances of the species,
- summary list of collected data and results of conducted works in the area of the most
abundant presence of the Aesculapian snake in the area of Lutowiska forest inspectorate,
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- proposing actions that increase permanence and effectiveness of foregoing protection of the
species,
- continuation of education of the society about the necessity of snake protection.
Because of information about precise location of areas of procreation and presence of the
Aesculapian snake contained in the strategy, this document was introduced to the General
Office of Environmental Protection, the Regional Office of Environmental Protection in
Rzeszów and the Lutowiska forest inspectorate. This elaboration was used in preparing the
next project, which is the continuation of the undertaken actions of active protection of the
species.
Continuation of undertaken actions of active protection of the Aesculapian snake
In order to increase and solidify the effects of protective action undertaken in 2009,
which absolutely needed to be continued, Institute of Nature Conservation PAS in Krakow w
years 2011-2014 realises another project entitled “Active Protection of the Aesculapian
Snake in the Western Carpathians”. The project was financed in 85% by the EU (from the
5th Priority of Operational Programme Infrastructure and Environment and in 15% by the
National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Warsaw.
In order to assess the parameters of population, such as size and age and sex structure,
38 sites of the Aesculapian snakes in the region from Chmiel village to Rajskie were taken
under permanent monitoring in the years 201--2012. The controls were planned from April to
September/October (once in April and September, twice a month from May to August) by a
trained team of a number of people. In 2013, 20 locations with procreation mounds in the area
of Baligród, Komańcza, Cisna, Ustrzyki Dolne, Stuposiany and Lesko forest inspectorates
were included in the monitoring works. Representatives of given forest inspectorates were
engaged in monitoring of those places. In order to assess the thermo-humidity conditions of
the procreation places, loggers (sensors for measuring those parameters) was installed in the
mounds. To check the level of inhabitancy of procreation spots, a few video cameras,
monitoring activity of the Aesculapian snake and other reptiles using the mounds, were
installed in places suitable for doing so.
In years 2011-2012 more places of potential appearance of the Aesculapian snake were
penetrated. Workers of the forest inspectorates involved in the project aided the inventory
works. On the basis of collected data, distribution of subsequent actions improving living
conditions of the Aesculapian snake in other parts of the Bieszczady Mountains was planned.
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The project presumed an increase of durability of created procreation and shelter spots
through adding sawdust and hay to existing mounds and creating trunk shelters and branch
shelters. In the region of appearance of the “otric” population 23 mounds were supplemented
and 6 of them were permanently fenced. 29 branch shelters were created and supplemented
and 20 trunk shelters were built.
In the area of Lutowiska forest inspectorate, several clearings with trunk shelters
between sites of the Aesculapian snake were recreated. Locations of those clearings, after
field vision and orthophotomaps analyses, were deemed important for breaking the isolation
dividing the places of appearances of the Aesculapian snake. About 3 ha of overgrowing
clearings and grasslands were de-bushed and 10 ha of land were mowed.
In order to protect new places of appearance of the Aesculapian snake (apart from rthe
region of appearance of the “otric” population), increase of the area of activity connected with
active protection of the species was planned. In the area of 7 forest inspectorates, actions
aimed at assisting procreation and living of the Aesculapian snake were proposed. Additional
mounds and other measures were localised mainly along the shores of the Solina basin
(Ustrzyki Dolne forest inspectorate), in the valley of the San Riven from Rajskie city
(Baligród forest inspectorate) to the border with Ukraine (Stuposiany forest inspectorate) and
in places where reports about dead Aesculapian snakes come from, from the region of
Komańcza and Cisna forest inspectorates. In the area of Lesko forest inspectorate, on the
border of the Bieszczady Mountains and the Low Beskid, a single mound with parameters
appropriate for the Aesculapian snake was built.
In the project, actions raising social awareness about the necessity of snake protection
were planned. At the end of the undertakings, making and placing of 15 educationalinformational boards in the area administrated by the State Forests was planned. Because of
the nature of the boards, they will be placed mostly in the regions of frequented tourist trails.
The boards, apart from the information about the Aesculapian snake, contain information
about other snakes with indication of distinctive features of particular species. Additionally,
the boards are supposed to collect information about the presence of the Aesculapian snake;
that is why the boards contain contact information and means of transferring information
about this species.
Within
the
framework
of
this
task,
an
Internet
subsite
was
created:
www.
iop.rakow.pl/eskulap/.
The culmination of the project is the creation of protection recommendations for the
species. On the basis of research of several years and as a result of cooperation with the State
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Forests and the Regional Office of Environmental Protection in Rzeszów a document
containing guidelines for further protection of the Aesculapian snake will be created. During
the realisation of the project, attention was given to i.a. the need to regulate the issue of
protection zones of the species, i.e. their update on the basis of data about appearance of the
Aesculapian snake and the state of preservation of dwellings. In this document,
recommendations on appearance and protection of the species will be presented as well. This
information might be taken into account in the plans of arrangement of the forest for
particular forest inspectorates (Kurek 2012).
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Summary
A few years long activities connected with active protection and reconnoitre of
population of the Aesculapian snake bring expected results. In 2013, the size of the population
living in the valley of the San River in the Otryt range was estimated to be about 200-250
specimens. Currently, 17 out of 23 mounds and inhabited by this species. The youngest
generation of this rare snake species can be observed more and more often. However, the
effects of the active protection are not yet full because on the basis of research in the Otryt
region it was concluded that mounds situated a few kilometres from places of numerous
appearances of the Aesculapian snake are inhabited in 2-3 years after their creation.
As a result of realisation of the abovementioned undertakings, an extremely valuable
cooperation with the State Forests, Regional Office of Environmental Protection in Rzeszów
and specialists working on behalf of the institutions financing the project was started. Direct
cooperation with residents of areas where the Aesculapian snake is present translates into
active protection of this species through actions of private persons. An example o such
effective cooperation is Mr Daniel Żak from Zatwarnica, who takes care of supplementation
and upkeep of the compost bin (procreation place of the Aesculapian snake) on his property. n
this compost bin, in 2010, first since the beginning of the project freshly hatched Aesculapian
snakes were found.
Despite many positive aspects connected with the protection of the Aesculapian snake,
starting with the positive reaction of the population to active protection activities, and ending
with implementing tools that enable constant data collection about the presence of the species,
the issues of stability of conducted works (Fig. 68) and the still incomplete reconnoitre of
presence of the species and its population outside the valley of the San River in the Otryt
range.
Fig. 68. Without supplementation (with sawdust, hay, and branches) mounds very quickly lose
their thermal properties and they stop acting as incubators for the Aesculapian snake’s eggs.
On the photo - a mound from 2009, before supplementation in 2011, photo by K. Kurek
V. 3. DESCRIPTION OF BEST PRACTICES FOR SMOOTH SNAKE
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“Inventory of Dwellings of the Smooth Snake Coronella austriaca for the Sake of
Protecting the Species in the Area of Włocławek Forest Inspectorate”
The “Inventory of Dwellings of the Smooth Snake Coronella austriaca for the Sake of
Protecting the Species in the Area of Włocławek Forest Inspectorate” project was realised in
2012 in the area of Włocławek Forest Inspectorate, which administrates a part of a large forest
complex situated in the Gostynin-Włocław Landscape Park.
The area of the GWLP is characterised by diverse land form, which consists of i.a. moraine
hills and dune ridges. They constitute the dominating element of the landscape, the
distinctiveness of which is underscored by pine forests. GWLP, including the Włocławek
Forest Inspectorate, was recognised as one of the most important places of being of the
smooth snake in central Poland (Zielińska et al. 2002), and the foregoing research confirmed
the significance of the discussed area for the protection of the smooth snake in Poland. This is
caused by large presence of beneficial biotopes, shaped also as a result of human activity, i.a.
through conducting forestry. This concerns mainly the dominating in this region dry pine
forests, where clearcutting works are done. Thanks to that, new and intensively sunny
dwellings are created. Clearcutting, including the complete ones, increases the chances of the
species surviving in forest areas in the long term.
Penetration of the smooth snake into anthropogenic dwellings near human settlements on
small mid-forest clearings, where the species finds advantageous living conditions, was
observed in the area of Włocławek Forest Inspectorate (Najbar 2000). Because of that, having
in mind upkeep of known sites located near forester’s lodges, employees of Włocławek Forest
Inspectorate undertook throughout the last years protective actions directed at preserving
existing around the settlements natural hideouts and creating additional artificial shelters,
mainly by stacking piles of wood (Fig. 69). Realised in this way, cost-free and easily,
protection of the species contributed to the preservation of the local populations near several
forest settlements. It was important to place the piles of wood outside the borders of the
settlements in such a way so as to minimise the risk of pressure in reference to the snakes
from the livestock. In 2004, from the initiative of Włocławek Forest Inspectorate, using a
designated subsidy from the state budget for natural preservation, 3 artificial shelters near a
forest settlement were created. Numerous sites of the smooth snake were found near them.
Works were conducted as a means of compensation, due to the demolition of an old stable,
which served the snakes as a place of procreation and frequent presence. Because of removal
of the brick foundation, where young specimens had been seen numerous times, a surrogate
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shelter was also partially placed under the ground (ca. 1 m) in order to create potential winter
camp for the snakes. Thick pieces of wood and stones were used to build the artificial
shelters. Throughout the subsequent seasons, constant appearances of the smooth snake in this
place were confirmed.
Attention! It should be noted that the attempt to recreate a potential place of
hibernation was made as a response to a clear loss of an already existing dwelling. Generally,
creating hibernacula under the ground is rarely done because it might entail the risk of
damaging the underground structures used by snakes, resulting in bringing an effect contrary
to the expected one!
Fig. 69. Dwelling of the smooth snake with secondary shelters, photo by M. Piotrowski.
In order to make a more accurate reconnoitre of appearances of the smooth snake in
the area of Włocławek Forest Inspectorate, an inventory, which covered five subdistricts with
its scope, was conducted in 2012. The works were financed from grants from the Provincial
Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Toruń after gaining a positive
opinion from the Regional Nature Conservator. In order to choose places for detailed field
works, an initial reconnoitre, involving analysis of local settlement conditions, was conducted.
The final choice of those places was made after carrying out local visions and taking into
account all the information about the smooth snake statements from employees of the State
Forests, Gostynin-Włocław Landscape Park and local naturalists.
Inventory works
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Propositions included in the elaboration concerning monitoring of the smooth snake
were used in the field works (Najbar 2011). Penetrating the area and searching the snakes on
the surface and under different kinds of items was accepted as the primary research method.
Having in mind the specificity of forest dwellings in Włocławek Forest Inspectorate,
which do not abound in natural elements which can serve as hiding spots, e.g. rocks, trunks
etc., artificial shelters were created in order to increase the likeliness of finding the snakes
(Fig. 70, 71). They consisted of about 0.5m x 0.5m waferboards. The waferboards were
painted brown in order to improve its thermal properties (the rate of heating up), protect it
from soaking and because of necessity to keep it hard to notice by outsiders.
Fig. 70, 71. Artificial hiding spots used during inventories of the smooth snake, photo by M.
Piotrowski
In total, 170 waferboards were placed in diverse distribution. he workers tried to place
at least 3 hideouts in a given place. They were distributed in a distance of between ten and
twenty meters from each other, and for the needs of later inspections, exact coordinates of
their location were described by a GPS receiver. The areas, where artificial hiding spots were
placed, were inspected 5-6 times. The places were penetrated not only during suny and warm
weather but also, in order to increase the snake detection rate, in times of coll weather and
after rainfall (Wiśniowski, Rozwałka 2007). During the field inspections, roads and their
shoulders were checked for snakes run over by cars. The works were conducted by employees
of the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Museum and Institute of Zoology PAS, State
Forest workers and local naturalists.
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As a result, presence of the smooth snake was detected or confirmed in 20 places.
Only in one place was the smooth snake found under a board imitating a hiding spot. Low
detectability when using boards could have been caused by i.a. late distribution in the field.
The snakes’ casts turned out to be valuable in gaining information about the places of
appearances of the smooth snake. Locations, where active protection activities were planned,
were designated. The activities were meant to prevent overgrowing of mid-forest clearings
and prepare secondary shelters in the form of trunk, bough and branch mounds.
As a continuation of protective activities Włocławek Forest Inspectorate received in
2013 a subsidy from the Provincial Fund for Environmental Protection and Water
Management in Toruń. Currently, another project entitled “Active Protection of Coronella
austriaca in Chosen Areas in Włocławek Forest Inspectorate” makes the effective protection
of local populations of this species possible. The issue of reptile protection was also included
in the range of ecological education aimed at the local population, mainly children and
adolescents and conducted by the workers of State Forests. Due to recorded cases of killing
smooth snakes in places situated near human settlements, educational actions are needed.
Coronella austriaca is a species which maybe should be protected in forest areas,
where it is possible to keep the necessary quality of dwellings used by the snakes (Zieliński,
Stanisławski 2006). In the case of this species, protection can be realised with little use of
funds, on the occasion of forest management, mainly through preventing the overgrowing of
mid-forest clearings and leaving fragments of wood and piles of branches as natural elements
creating a biotope for that species.
“Protection of Coronella austriaca in Central Poland”
The project of Łódź Club of Polish Society for Nature Conservation “Salamandra”, realised in
years 2000-2002, was one of the first undertakings in Poland focused on protection of the
smooth snake, with the use of various methods of active protection combined with ecological
education and reconnoitre of presence of this species in the central part of the country.
The programme received a grant-aid from the Small Subsidies Programme of the
Global Environment Facility UNDP, and its realisation was conducted in cooperation with the
Zoological Garden in Łódź. The works were conducted after gaining permissions from the
Ministry of Environment, Local Ethical Committee and the Regional Nature Conservator.
The main aims of the projects were:

reconnoitre of presence of the smooth snake in central Poland;
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
assessment of dangers for the population of the smooth snake;

active protection of dwellings through illuminating of spots and creating artificial
shelters;

legal protection of one of sites through the creation of an ecological use;

assistance of procreation through capturing of pregnant females in order to get offspring,
released after wintering at a site from which the female comes from;

publishing of publications and creating a website concerning protection of herpetofauna;

preparation of a photo exhibition on reptile protection (Zieliński 2003).
Reconnoitre of presence of the smooth snake
Inventory of sites were conducted in 2001 and 2002 in the whole central Poland. Few-men
groups were penetrating places of potential presence of the smooth snake. One of the sites
was found in vicinity of Dębniaki village, where about 5 specimens of the species were
spotted. Summary of the results of the inventory conducted within the framework of the
project with data from previous years made it possible to recognise the area of GostyninWłocław Landscape Park as important for protection of the smooth snake. Existence of 10
sites of the species in the precinct of 6 adjacent atlas fields was recorder (Zieliński et al.
2002a).
Active and legal protection of dwellings
One of the sites of the smooth snake situated in Złoczew Upland was included in the active
protection activities. The site was chosen for security works because of disadvantageous
condition of the population of snakes that are present there, as well as their dwellings and no
legal protection of this place, as opposed to other sites from Załęczyn and Gostyń-Włocław
Landscape Parks and the Diabla Góra preserve.
Lightening of the site was carried out in winter of 2001/2002, thanks to which avoiding the
risk of killing the snakes accidentally during the works was possible. Bushes and trees causing
overshadowing of the site were removed in the area of about 1 ha. Fragments of trees and
bushes that were left as a result of removal were used to create secondary shelters.
Additionally, 5 piles of stones were created. Their purpose was to act as hiding spots for the
smooth snake and its potential prey. The site was given legal protection in the form of
ecological use.
Assistance of procreation
In years 2001 and 2002 an attempt to assist procreation of the smooth snake at the site
in Złoczew Upland was made. Enlarging of the population was done through capturing
www.lasy.gov.pl
pregnant females and transporting them to the Municipal Zoological Garden in Łódź. Females
were kept in terrariums until the birth. The offspring was fed, wintered and then released in
spring in the place of capture of females.
In June of 2000 a pregnant female was captured and transported to the Zoological
Garden. After the birth, which took place in August, the female lost about 30% of body mass
and was released 5 days later. The litter consisted of 14 individuals, 2 of which died just after
birth. Young smooth snakes were wintered and released into the wild in May and July of the
next year. At the time of release, about 50% increase of length and almost three times the
weight gain since birth was recorded.
In 2001, near the end of June, another pregnant female was captures. In August, she
gave birth to 7 snakes and 1 unfertilised egg. The female was released 6 days after the birth.
She lost almost 40% of her weight. The brood was released in the first half of May 2012. The
length of the snakes’ body increased about 30% and their weight doubled.
Unfortunately, during wintering young smooth snakes showed high mortality. 50% of
snakes died. During the wintering, a large fluctuation of body mass, which could have been
the cause of the worsening of the snakes’ condition, and as a consequence their deaths, was
not noted. After the first hibernation, the conditions of keeping the snakes were changed a bit.
That, however, did not bring any results. The cause of such high mortality of the brood is not
known. During the wintering of the snakes, difficulties in finding food for the sand lizard
were met with. Feeding the offspring with a different kind of food was accepted as risky since
it could have encompassed habituation of consumption of food that is inaccessible in the
natural environment, where they were supposed to be released. Due to the abovementioned
problems, further attempts at assisting the procreation were decided against and further
security works were limited to monitoring of the population and keeping and improving
dwelling conditions (Zieliński et al. 2002b).
Monitoring of sites of the smooth snake
Population of two sites (Złoczew Upland, Gostynin-Włocław Landscape Park) became
monitored. In the area of Złoczew Upland in years 2001 and 2002, 2 out of 9 younglings
which were released there were captured again. Mediocre results of monitoring were a result
of difficulties in finding smooth snakes in their natural environment.
Educational and popularisational activity
www.lasy.gov.pl
Educational actions were an important element of the project. Popularisational activity
was realised through:
 preparation of a publication entitled “Reptiles of Łódź Area”, co-financed from the
Municipal Fund for Environmental Protection in Łódź;
 publishing of an article entitled “We Protect the Smooth Snake” (by M. Stopczyński)
in the Salamandra magazine;
 printing of folders (the edition consisted of 1000 copies) on protection of domestic
reptiles;
 preparation of a website devoted to the project;
 preparation of a photo exhibition entitled “Protect the Domestic Reptiles” in Middle
School no. 28 in Łódź and in the Łódź Gallery (the exhibition was co-financed by the
Provincial Fund for Environment Protection in Łódź);
 radio programmes on protection of the smooth snake.
Thanks to the abovementioned activities and the cooperation with foresters and local
authorities, an interest in snakes and the need to protect them was aroused.
What to do upon finding a pond turtle, an Aesculapian snake or a smooth snake?
As mentioned, distribution and number of those species in Poland are not reconnoitred
well enough. Because of that, all information concerning those statements are extremely
valuable.
In case of encountering any of the abovementioned species, please send a message to
the Institute of Nature Conservation PAS in Krakow with following data:
a) Full name of the author of the observation
b) Location (province, nearest city, GPS coordinates if possible)
c) Date of encounter
d) Short description of dwelling (e.g. edge of a forest, clearing, a pile of stones on a
meadow)
e) Number of encountered specimens
f) Approximate size of encountered specimens (large, small, this year’s)
g) Information whether the specimen is dead or alive
h) Photo documentation of encountered specimens is recommended
Contact info:
www.lasy.gov.pl
Institute of Nature Conservation PAS
Al. A. Mickiewicza 33, 31-120 Krakow
E-mail: gramp@iop.krakow.pl
Contact person: Grażyna Połczyńska-Konior
All information concerning the presence of the Aesculapian snake (photographs of living
and dead specimens) can be sent to:
Contact person: Katarzyna Kurek
E-mail: kkurek@iop.krakow.pl
Sent data can help in creation of the currently in-the-making Atlas of Polish
Amphibians and Reptiles and in supplementing a database on the distribution of the
Aesculapian snake in Poland. All used reports are labeled with the author of the report’s name.
In case of finding an injured specimen, one can try contacting local zoological
gardens, veterinarians or specialists from the list below. List of veterinary offices which can
help injured reptiles can be found in this website: www.terrarium.pl/cms/vet.
Planning an inventory, monitoring, active protection or creation of a protected area should be
consulted with specialists who have experience in research and protection of a species. Below
is a list of addresses of people dealing with protected reptile species in various parts of Poland
(without their academic titles):
a) Lower Silesia (Dolny Śląsk)
Bartosz Borczyk, Faculty of Evolutional Biology and Ecology, University of Wrocław, ul.
Sienkiewicza 21, 59-335 Wrocław
Robert Maślak, Faculty of Evolutional Biology and Ecology, University of Wrocław,
ul. Sienkiewicza 21, 59-335 Wrocław, robert.maslak@biol.uni.wroc.pl, phone: 71 3754040
b) South, Lesser Poland, Lower Carpathians (Południe, Małopolska, Podkarpacie)
Stanisław Bury, Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University
ul. Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Krakow, stanislaw.bury@uj.edu.pl
Maciej Pabijan, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University
ul. Gronostajowa 9, 30-387 Krakow, maciej.pabijan@uj.edu.pl
Piotr Profus, Institute of Nature Conservation PAS
al. A. Mickiewicza 33, 31-120 Krakow, profus@iop.krakow.pl
c) Southern Poland, Świętokrzyskie
Maciej Bonk, Society for Nature Research and Conservation,
www.lasy.gov.pl
ul. Sienkiewicza 68, 25-501 Kielce, bonk.maciej@gmail.com
d) Central Poland, Łódzkie Province
Piotr Zieliński, Faculty of Ecology and Vertebrate Zoology, University of Lodz
ul. Banacha 12/16, 90-237 Łódź, pziel@niol.uni.lodz.pl, tel. 42 6354434
Michał Stopczyński, ul. Radlińskiej 3/5, 91 – 848 Łódź, mr.frog@interia.pl, tel. 509 148 958
e) Mazowsze
Joanna Mazgajska, Musem and Institute of Zoology PAS
ul. Wilcza 64, 00-679 Warszawa, jmazgajska@gmail.com
f) Lubelskie Province, Roztocze
Przemysław Stachyra, Roztocze National Park
ul. Plażowa 2, 22-470 Zwierzyniec, przemekstachyra@wp.pl
g) North, Warmia and Masuria
Grzegorz Górecki, Field Station of Department of Biology, University of Warsaw
Urwitałt 1, 11-730 Mikołajki, baza@nomad.pl, tel. 604 696 496
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www.lasy.gov.pl

BEST PRACTICES MANUAL FOR REPTILES PROTECTION

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