Desert Tortoise Recovery Office

2011 Revised Recovery Plan for the Mojave Population of the Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) (5.87 MB PDF)

The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) organized a team in 1990 to develop a plan (Recovery Plan) that would "save" or "recover" the Mojave desert tortoise. The team was composed of nationally recognized scientists in desert tortoise biology, conservation biology, desert ecology, and diseases of reptiles. The goal of recovery plan is to reduce or eliminate threats to the tortoise and restore a self-sustaining, wild population so that it can be removed from the Endangered Species list. The Desert Tortoise (Mojave Population) Recovery Plan was completed in 1994, and a revised plan (5.7 MB PDF) was published in 2011..

The term "recovery" has many meanings and should be explained as it relates to endangered species. When a person is injured or has surgery, they often consult with doctors or other experts to develop a plan that will return them to full health and keep them from getting injured again. Well, the Service uses the word "recovery" in a similar way. A "recovery plan" determines the "threats" that are hurting the species, suggests actions that will reduce or eliminate these threats so species can fully recover, and recommends ways to ensure that the population remains stable.