Back home : first successful geographical assignment of rehabilitated leopard tortoises Stigmochelys pardalis using a conservation genetic database

dc.contributor.authorArmstrong, Adrian J.
dc.contributor.authorKropff, Anna S.
dc.contributor.authorKotze, Antoinette
dc.contributor.authorWhitehead, Wade
dc.contributor.authorGoosen, Elishia
dc.contributor.authorIhlow, Flora
dc.contributor.authorMonadjem, Ara
dc.contributor.authorPadidar, Sara
dc.contributor.authorVamberger, Melita
dc.date.accessioned2026-10-02T12:03:41Z
dc.date.available2026-10-02T12:03:41Z
dc.date.issued2026-03-21
dc.descriptionDATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT: Data are available upon request from Anna S. Kropff.
dc.description SUPPORTING INFORMATION: TABLE S1 : Amplified microsatellite loci for Stigmochelys pardalis TABLE S2 : Cycling conditions for multiplex and single-locus PCRs TABLE S3 : Details of genotypic clustering of the 50 wild Stigmochelys pardalis based on microsatellite loci, as inferred using STRUCTURE (Version 2.3.4; modified after Dajčman et al. 2021) TABLE S4 : Details of genotypic clustering of 18 admixed Stigmochelys pardalis from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and Eswatini (Fig. 1b) using microsatellite loci as inferred by STRUCTURE (Version 2.3.4; modified after Dajčman et al. 2021) TABLE S5 : Details of genotypic clustering of the 50 rehabilitated Stigmochelys pardalis using microsatellite loci as inferred by STRUCTURE (Version 2.3.4; modified after Dajčman et al. 2021)
dc.description.abstractIllegal trade in leopard tortoises Stigmochelys pardalis is widespread, yet the origins of confiscated S. pardalis are often unknown. Accurate assignment to source populations is essential for informed conservation management and release. We expanded and tested a genetic reference database for assigning S. pardalis to their original wild populations in KwaZuluNatal Province, South Africa, and Eswatini. We added 50 newly genotyped wild S. pardalis sampled across these regions to the database and then evaluated the updated database by sampling and assessing 50 S. pardalis of unknown geographic origin held at a rehabilitation centre in KwaZulu-Natal. Genetic assignment indicated that only a single S. pardalis at the rehabilitation centre may have originated from KwaZulu-Natal, highlighting the extent of illegal trade, translocation, and possession of S. pardalis. Individuals of verified regional origin were subsequently rehabilitated and translocated for soft release at appropriate sites.
dc.description.departmentMammal Research Institute
dc.description.departmentZoology and Entomology
dc.description.librarianbs2026
dc.description.sdgSDG-15: Life on land
dc.description.sponsorshipUniversity of KwaZulu-Natal, Mapula Trust, South African National Biodiversity Institute and A Rocha South Africa.
dc.description.urihttps://link.springer.com/journal/10592
dc.identifier.citationArmstrong, A.J., Kropff, A.S., Kotze, A. et al. 2026, ‘Back home: first successful geographical assignment of rehabilitated leopard tortoises Stigmochelys pardalis using a conservation genetic database’, Conservation Genetics, vol. 27, no. 2, art. 41: pp. 1-7, doi: 10.1007/s10592-026-01773-y
dc.identifier.issn1566-0621 (print)
dc.identifier.issn1572-9737 (online)
dc.identifier.other10.1007/s10592-026-01773-y
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/112374
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherSpringer
dc.rights© The Author(s) 2026. Open Access. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
dc.subjectGenetic typing
dc.subjectRelease to the wild
dc.subjectCaptive tortoise accumulations
dc.subjectIllegal trade and possession
dc.subjectLeopard tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis)
dc.subjectStigmochelys pardalis
dc.titleBack home : first successful geographical assignment of rehabilitated leopard tortoises Stigmochelys pardalis using a conservation genetic database
dc.typeArticle

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