Key areas for the conservation of endangered reptile species in the Kresna Gorge, south-western Bulgaria

Abstract

Kresna Gorge and the broader Struma River Valley in south-western Bulgaria host high species diversity, including species of conservation importance and locally restricted distribution. Precise published data on amphibian and reptile distributions, however, are limited and incomplete. Here we summarised 2834 precise distribution records from the herpetofauna in the region, focusing on four key species of conservation importance: Testudo graeca, T. hermanni, Elaphe quatuorlineata and Zamenis situla. We identified three areas of importance for the key species within the study area, confirming the significance of Kresna Gorge. The key species were mostly found at lower elevations, near the major road E79; automotive traffic presents a major threat to the populations.

Keywords

• amphibia
• conservation
• distribution
• mapping
• reptilia
• road mortality