Thematic Route: The Cultural Heritage Route

Name of the Touristic Attraction: The Center of Growing the Hermann Turtle in Captivity

Location: in Eșelnița Commune, Mehedinți County, at 37 km away from Drobeta Turnu Severin. The commune is located in the western part of Mehedinţi County, on DN 57.

Legend / Story / Impressions / Recommendations: The Iron Gates Natural Park is home to a unique reptile in Romania, called the Hermann Turtle. The Hermann turtle is a solitary species, which buries in the ground at depths of over 15 cm, at the end of October and enters hibernation until March. In spring they copulate and between May and June the female digs a pit in a slope where it deposits 6-7 eggs. They stay in the ground for almost two months, the babies coming out alone, without help from their mother. In all this time the nest can be devastated by predators: beetles, foxes, hedgehogs etc. Therefore, the survival rate is very small, an average of only one egg out of six hatches. Thus, this species has become a species endangered both in our country and in Europe. The decline of the species began almost 30 years ago when these animals began to be collected for the purpose of using them as pets, when the people were killing the specimens for entering in their gardens, or when the animals died poisoned by chemical fertilizers. This is why the Center in Eşelnita Commune was set up. It is a Species and Habitat Monitoring Center where this species is under observation. In 2000, the University of Bucharest established the Center. It was a premiere for Europe as the first protection and conservation measures for Hermann tortoise were taken. At first, 57 turtles were gathered from the Iron Gates Natural Park and brought to the Center. After laying their eggs, they were taken back in their habitat but monitored with modern devices such as radio transmitters, GPS devices, and electronic sampling of humidity and temperature data every 3 hours. The eggs deposited were marked so that, when they reach maturity, the specimens raised in captivity are released into the area from which they were picked up. The Hermann tortoise is a peaceful animal and the tradition says that brings luck to people who meet it. It has become a symbol for the inhabitants of Eşelniţa and a tourist attraction for all tourists arriving in the area.

Information and Contact:

Visiting Program: Monday – Friday: 09-17

Contact: phone: +4 0252 365438

Address: Cireșilor Street, No. 449, Eșelnița, PO 227195, Mehedinți County

E-mail: make2000@gmail.com; office@ccmesi.ro

Contact Person: prof. Vasile BAGRINOVSKI – phone: +40726369077

Route close to other Thematic Routes:

In the area you can also visit:

1. Ethnography Museum „Doina Olimpia and Teodor Grigore”, Eșelnița
2. The Parish Museum, Eșelnița
3. Nicholas Church, Eșelnița
4. Danube Cluster
5. Orșova City
6. Dubova Commune

Touritic ofers:

• Here are organized mountain-biking trails, hiking routes, boat trips on the Danube and fishing.

Other useful information:

Accommodation:

1. “Allegria” Pension: phone:+4 0747 935 122
2. “Cabana Delfinului” Pension: phone: +4 0740 791 538
3. “Cabana Plăpumioara” Pension: phone: +4 0762 427 603

 GPS Coordinates: lat, long: 44.70198329999999, 22.363361499999996, elevation: 79m