Celtic Rewilding

Celtic Rewilding,[1] formally known as Celtic Reptile & Amphibian,[2] is a conservation company, established in 2020, by Harvey Tweats and Tom Whitehurst, with the initial aim of reintroducing extinct reptiles and amphibians back to rewilding projects within the UK.

[12][13] In response to worries about the potential transfer of diseases (like chytrid which causes chytridiomycosis) from captive animals to the wild, a biosecurity protocol was enacted.

Surviving until the Neolithic, this chelonian qualifies as a native British species as evidenced by fossils and sedaDNA analysis, however, it most likely went extinct due to a combination of climatic deterioration, habitat destruction and hunting.

This is not the first example of a reintroduction where a species, nor even a chelonian, has been re-established in an area last inhabited in prehistoric times: the Bolson tortoise has been reintroduced to its Pleistocene range in the south-east USA where it was extirpated for 13,000 years.

[26][27][28] Celtic Rewilding have worked with the University of Cambridge to develop a project feasibility study for the restoration of this species.

They propose a trial release into a fenced area to investigate the impact (positive or negative) on native species and the incubation success of the turtle, somewhere in the East Anglian Broads, Brecks or Fens.

There, it is climatically suitable and close to East Wretham, where the turtle fossils were discovered in 1836 and subsequently described by Alfred Newton.

[29][30] The enclosure will have several water bodies to allow the turtles' impact to be monitored and to investigate how successfully they can breed in the UK.