The KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service (KZN Wildlife) is a member of the World Conservation Union (IUCN). Accordingly, the IUCN/SSC Guidelines for Re-introduction, the IUCN Guidelines for the Placement of Confiscated Animals, and the IUCN Guidelines for the Prevention of Biodiversity Loss caused by Alien Invasive Species form the basis for this protocol, and these should be read in conjunction with this protocol for further information and reasons for each step of the protocol. The following protocol is in agreement with official KZN Wildlife policy.

1: Project Team
1.1: A multidisciplinary team consisting of at least four members from a variety of backgrounds but with the required range of expertise for the release of tortoises will be formed and a team leader selected. The team leader will be responsible for the correct implementation of the protocol, and consultation and collaboration with appropriate KZN Wildlife staff.

1: Release Project Documentation
1.1: A document will be opened detailing each step of the release plan below, and the members of the project team will certify the successful completion of each step by signature before the completion of the next step. All documentation and references relevant to the release process will be included in, or appended to, the release plan.

1: Criteria for Release
1.1: Tortoises will only be considered for release into the wild if they are native to the province of KwaZulu-Natal. Therefore the only tortoises that will be considered for release are Babcock's leopard tortoise Geochelone pardalis babcocki, Natal hinged tortoise Kinixys natalensis, Bell's hinged tortoise Kinixys belliana belliana, and Speke's hinged tortoise Kinixys spekeii.
1.2: Captive tortoises may only be released into their native range as determined by the best information available to the release team. Where genetic studies have been done, the results of these should guide decision-making as to the appropriate locations for releases. Consideration should be given to getting relevant genetic studies done before releases are effected.
1.3: A panel of at least two experts on tortoises will correctly identify the species and subspecies of the captive tortoises that have the potential to be released into the wild.
1.4: Tortoises will not be released into the wild if they are unwell, suffering from incurable or terminal diseases, carrying transmittable diseases and foreign parasites or abnormal loads of natural parasites, injured or of uncertain identity (e.g. hybrids or potentially of non-native subspecies).

1: Quarantine and Treatment
1.1: Only tortoises that have been held captive for more than two months will be considered for release into the wild. This will allow for a period of quarantine and adaptation to natural food.
1.2: The tortoises will be examined and tested for infectious diseases and parasites by a vet or other expert qualified to treat reptiles. The correct treatment will be given to the tortoises and the tortoises will be certified free of infectious diseases and foreign parasites before release.

1: Collation of Information
1.1: Literature detailing previous re-introductions of tortoises to the wild should be collated and the factors that contributed to the success or failure of the re-introductions should be noted. Lessons learned should be applied the release programme wherever applicable. Contact with members of those re-introduction projects should be made to glean further information and advice where required.
1.2: Information on the ecological requirements, natural history, social organisation and demographic parameters of each species or subspecies should be collated from the literature, and critical needs highlighted.

1: Criteria for Release Areas
1.1: The areas where the tortoises are to be released should have had a population of the tortoise in the past but should have few or no tortoises at the time of the release.
1.2: The factors that caused the decline in the tortoise population in the release areas should be known and no longer operating or else should be under long-term control.

1: Spatial Considerations
1.1: The amount of suitable habitat for the tortoises in the release areas should be calculated.
1.2: The number of tortoises of the species or subspecies to be released that are still present in the release areas should be estimated, and the area required by these remnant tortoises, if any, calculated.
1.3: The regions surrounding the release areas need to be investigated to ensure that the tortoises or their offspring can disperse into suitable adjacent habitat should the population exceed the carrying capacity of the release area.

1: Composition of Release Group
1.1: The potential number of tortoises that could be released into the remaining "empty" habitat should be calculated. Calculations could be based on the carrying capacity of the remaining available habitat for tortoises or on the percentage of the carrying capacity of the total suitable habitat in the areas that would promote the attainment of maximum reproductive rate of the tortoises.
1.2: The number of tortoises re-introduced to each release area, in conjunction with any remnant wild tortoise population, should constitute an adequate founder population to sustain the total population in the release area. The number, size and timing of further re-introductions of tortoises to maintain genetic heterozygoscity in the release areas should be calculated where the population size is too small to maintain sufficient genetic variability within the population.
1.3: A minimum viable population of the tortoise should be supported in the release area, or where this is not possible, at least in the release area and surrounding region. Factors operating in the surrounding region that may initiate and sustain a decline in the tortoise population should be eliminated or at least subject to a long-term, continuous and adequate control program that commences before the release of the tortoises. The release program should be fully understood, accepted and supported by the surrounding landowners and local communities. Protection of the tortoise population must be assured.
1.4: The demographic composition of the group of tortoises to be released should be based on that needed to attain in the release area the known or estimated population parameters for that species or subspecies.

1: Preparation for Monitoring
1.1: A monitoring programme must be drawn up, indicating how the released tortoises will be monitored, the frequency of monitoring and the probable duration of the monitoring programme, and setting down reliable indicators of the success or failure of the release project. 1.2: The system to be used to individually identify each tortoise that is released must be chosen and implemented before transport of the tortoises to the release areas. The marking system must allow individual recognition of tortoises during the monitoring phase.

1: Transport
1.1: Transport plans must be developed, including the means of transport, the duration of the trip, the dimensions and type of the containers and the provision of critical supplies such as water and correct food to meet the needs of the tortoises.
1.2: Methods to minimize stress to the animals during transport should be agreed upon and implemented.
1.3: All State Veterinary health regulations must be followed before and during transport of tortoises to the release sites.

1: Acclimation
1.1: The type of holding facilities for the tortoises during the acclimation period at the release area, the siting of the holding facilities, the type of provisions required by and that should be given to the tortoises during the acclimation phase, and the duration of this phase should be determined and reported.

1: Release
1.1: The tortoises should be released at the agreed sites at the agreed time in the agreed manner.

1: Monitoring
1.1: The monitoring programme must be effected after the release of the tortoises and the indicators of the success or failure of the release must be reported at the agreed frequency for the duration of the monitoring programme.

1: Review
1.1: The release protocol and the release project should be amended where necessary using the insights gained from releases of the tortoises.