There are less than 1000 individuals of this species of turtle in France.
It was to save L'Émyde lepreuse, a French aquatic turtle found only in the South (Aude, Pyrénées-Orientales and Hérault), that Chantale Menet, a 62-year-old woman from Nantes, began a journey on foot from 1,000 kilometers.
Leaving on August 9, this walking and biodiversity enthusiast must reach the Refuge des Tortues in six weeks in Bessières, north-west of Toulouse (Haute-Garonne).
“I had already come to visit this structure - I am a member of the association - which will build the first breeding station for this small turtle, the most endangered in France, explains Chantale Menet, who arrived in stage on August 20 in Saint- Jean-d'Angély (Charente-Maritime).
70,000 euros are needed for this project which will make it possible to give birth to new specimens of this species.
So I decided to take to the roads to make it known and talk to people about biodiversity ”.
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For her daily life, the walker who travels without a tent relies on the friendliness of the people she meets or on overnight rentals for her accommodation.
“I have long planned certain passages with people already involved in nature protection issues.
But I meet a lot of people intrigued by my approach, ”says the one walking with a small teddy turtle as a mascot.
Once in Occitania, it must notably stop at the castle of Cénevières, in the Lot and aims to arrive in Bessières on September 18.
The construction of the breeding station is planned for September in order to install the turtles there in 2022.