Padlopers: Breeding for the Future of the Parrot-Beaked Tortoise

Breeding padlopers isn’t optional - it’s essential. In this episode, host Wendy Montroy sits down with Dirk Barnard to unpack what it really takes to breed parrot beak tortoises successfully.

Founder of Tortoise Conservation South Africa and a keynote speaker at the 2025 TTPG Conference, Dirk shares hard-won insights into why captive breeding is now inseparable from the survival of the common padloper. Together, they explore the challenges facing breeders worldwide, from limited genetic diversity and information-sharing barriers to the real risks of inbreeding.

Dirk dives deep into practical husbandry, including temperature cycling, diet, egg incubation, and hatchling care, while dispelling common assumptions that can sabotage breeding success. He also makes a compelling case for collaboration, calling for stud books and transparent breeding efforts to build sustainable populations.

This conversation is both a technical deep dive and a call to action for keepers, breeders, and conservation-minded listeners invested in the future of one of South Africa’s most threatened tortoises.

Have questions? You can find Wendy and Dirk on the TTPG Group Discussion: https://www.facebook.com/groups/TTPGGroup

Dirk Barnard on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dirk.barnard

Tortoise Conservation South Africa

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