San Acan
Rescue Centre for Tortoises
The issue
The Argentine tortoise (Chelonoidis chilensis) is under serious threat. Its populations have been declining dramatically for years. The main causes are habitat loss and, above all, the illegal wildlife trade. The species is among the most illegally traded tortoises in the country and is now considered endangered according to the IUCN.
The Argentine tortoise is unique in the world: no other land tortoise in the world lives naturally so far south. These animals are perfectly adapted to dry landscapes, cold winters and extreme temperature fluctuations – far removed from the tropical image many people associate with tortoises.
Its evolutionary history stretches back millions of years. This species has lived in South America for an unimaginably long time, surviving major climatic shifts and profound changes to the landscape. Yet within just a few human generations – a tiny moment in evolutionary terms – human activity has pushed the species to the brink of extinction.
These tortoises also play a central role in their ecosystems. As herbivores of dry regions, they contribute to seed dispersal and help maintain the vegetation and ecological balance of their habitats. Their disappearance would not only mean the loss of an emblematic species but could also have severe consequences for entire ecosystems.
The greatest threat does not come from natural predators or disease, but from humans. Habitat destruction caused by land-use change, fires, road traffic and, above all, the illegal pet trade are placing enormous pressure on the species. Time and again, hundreds of tortoises are confiscated after being hidden and transported in horrific conditions for sale.
This situation is especially alarming because the species has a very slow life cycle. These tortoises take many years to reach sexual maturity and produce only a small number of offspring. As a result, populations recover very slowly. Numbers continue to decline and the risk of the species disappearing entirely keeps increasing.
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Our project
With San Acan, Fondation Franz Weber (FFW) is developing the first specialised rescue centre for the Argentine tortoise. The centre aims to become an important tool in the fight against illegal wildlife trafficking while also supporting authorities in combating organised criminal networks.
A specialised centre means that confiscations no longer remain isolated rescue operations. The animals are permanently removed from the illegal trade and provided with professional care. This requires infrastructure and clear procedures: safe intake, identification, veterinary assessment, quarantine, rehabilitation and, whenever possible, preparation for release back into the wild.
The project relies on an experienced team with many years of expertise in wildlife rehabilitation and the fight against illegal wildlife trade. This knowledge allows for low-stress handling of the animals and specialised veterinary care tailored specifically to reptiles. It also includes quarantine and biosecurity measures, as well as science-based decisions regarding whether an animal can be successfully released back into the wild.
At the same time, the team plays an important role in combating illegal trafficking. Every case is documented, registered and carefully recorded. This generates valuable data that can support authorities during inspections and investigations while helping improve the effectiveness of future operations.
San Acan’s mission pursues two closely connected goals. On the one hand, every confiscated animal should have the opportunity to recover physically and regain behaviours necessary for life in the wild. On the other hand, animals that are fit to survive independently should be responsibly released so they can once again fulfil their ecological role in nature.
For animals that can no longer be released to the wild due to their health condition or long periods spent in captivity, San Acan also provides a permanent refuge. The centre follows a sanctuary approach, providing professional care, high animal welfare standards and an environment designed to offer every animal the best possible quality of life.
In essence, this project brings together applied conservation, animal welfare and institutional collaboration to combat wildlife trafficking: rescuing, rehabilitating and professionally caring for animals with the goal of returning every viable individual to the wild.
Our goals
- Provide a solution for the thousands of tortoises confiscated each year that often have nowhere suitable to go and otherwise spend the rest of their lives in zoos or general rescue centres.
- Contribute to scientific knowledge about the distribution, ecology and population dynamics of tortoise species.
- Reduce illegal capture and mortality rates.
- Contribuir al conocimiento cientifico sobre la distribución, ecología y dinámica poblacional de las especies de tortugas terrestres.
- Promote the protection and restoration of key habitats.
- Strengthen public awareness and encourage community participation in the conservation of these species.
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