About the Tortoise Centre Waterland
The Tortoise Centre Waterland is located in Ilpendam, a village close to Amsterdam in the western part of the Netherlands. Up to 2003 the Centre was called the Tortoise Study Centre (SSC) Oosterbeek. Private owned indoor and outdoor terraria are used to investigate the behaviour and the conditions of the tortoises. Groups of Testudo hermanni boettgeri, Testudo marginata and cross-breedings of Testudo graeca and Testudo marginata are kept.
Investigation of the effects of environmental parameters on the incubation period and sex ratio of Testudo hermanni boettgeri and Testudo marginata have been performed. Apart from the temperature, many other parameters were studied, e.g. characteristics of the parental female, nest location, time of nesting, order of laying within a clutch, egg weight and humidity during the incubation period. Most of the approximately 60 tortoises and 25 turtles now present are of the second and third generation.
Some of the greenhouses used are shown below. The greenhouses are used to protect the tortoises and to seperate different species.
For more information and advice on keeping and breeding of Testudo hermanni boettgeri or Testudo marginata please find contact details here.