The turtle in winter: The Gea Chelonia rescue centre houses over 200 inhabitants

Bulgaria is one of the few countries in Europe where wild tortoises still thrive

published on 1/22/25 3:24 PM

Photo: Geachelonia.org

As winter numbs the wilderness, the tortoises hibernate in their shelters, protected from the cold and outside threats. But what happens to them during this time? Where do they feel safest and when can we expect them to wake up?

In the village of Banya, not far from the Black Sea resort of Nessebar, is Bulgaria's only tortoise rescue centre, Gea Chelonia - a cosy home for more than 200 of these slow-footed reptiles. The oldest resident is a 75-year-old female spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca). They call her Nana, even though she is still laying eggs and is of middle "tortoise" age - members of this species live for over 120 years. The oldest turtle in the world, Jonathan, is 190 years old and lives on the island of St Helena in the Seychelles.

Nana and her 'sisters' at the rescue centre are housed in a spacious yard with sunny and shady areas, shelters, small houses and water pods - a true 'residential complex' for these adorable reptiles.

There is also a specialised hospital where injured turtles from all over Bulgaria receive medical care and stay for treatment before being released back into the wild - we learn from Iva Lalovska, the centre's manager.

"Since 2007, this centre has been dedicated to helping turtles in distress. They are wild animals but very often they are in a human environment and when they need help, say they are injured or found in distress or in unusual places, they are brought to our centre. We help them and then we release them. While they are with us, they can lay their eggs, which hatch into baby turtles. If they are healthy, we release them into the wild.

Bulgaria is one of the few countries in Europe where tortoises can still be found. There are two endangered species - the spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca) and the Hermann's tortoise (Testudo hermanni). Most of them dwell in the Eastern Rhodopes, but also in south-western Bulgaria - along the Struma River. We also see them in other parts of the country," Iva Lalovska adds:

"All species in our country, both aquatic (turtles) and terrestrial (tortoises), are endangered and under varying degrees of protection. In general, people are not allowed to catch them, touch their eggs or nests, move them or interfere with their lives in any way. Because they are slow, they are the most common road casualties, but they also suffer from mistreatment by people who keep them as pets. We regularly receive turtles suffering from rickets because they have been kept for long periods without sunlight or proper food. They are also often victims of dogs, farm machinery, fires, etc.".

The founder of the rescue centre, Ivo Ivanchev, passed away in 2023.

The Rescue Centre actively works with children through its annual summer camps. The children learn interesting facts about the life of the turtles and help to release them back into the wild. Tortoises that cannot be released can be adopted.

The team also organises tours around the village for visitors who want to explore nature and see these gentle creatures in their natural habitat. But now it is still winter and Nana and her friends are hibernating, waiting for April to wake them up for a new cycle of life and adventure.

Read more about the founder of the Gea Chelonia rescue centre Ivo Ivanchev who unfortunately passed away in 2023:

Ivo Ivanchev and his rescue center for tortoises

Photos: the Gea Chelonia Rescue Centre

Posted in English by E. Radkova

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The turtle in winter: The Gea Chelonia rescue centre houses over 200 inhabitants

Bulgaria is one of the few countries in Europe where wild tortoises still thrive

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