Le Village des Tortues, Conservation center for turtles in Carnoules, France
Le Village des Tortues is a care facility that houses around 1,600 turtles belonging to roughly 50 different species. The animals live in specially designed enclosures and tropical greenhouses that recreate their natural habitats.
The facility began in 1988 as a turtle conservation initiative and relocated from its original location to Carnoules in 2017. This move allowed the center to significantly expand its operations and improve care for the animals.
You can watch the turtles going about their daily routines, basking in the sun or moving through water in their own rhythm. Seeing them this way helps you understand how each species lives and what role they play in nature.
The site is easy to reach and welcomes visitors throughout the year, so you can plan your trip at almost any time. Plan to spend a good amount of time there so you can explore all the enclosures and greenhouses at a comfortable pace.
The center operates a specialized veterinary clinic that treats and rehabilitates injured and sick turtles. Whenever possible, these animals are released back into the wild to help maintain natural populations.
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