A recent study has found that persistent mating attempts by male Hermann turtles are threatening their population's survival on an uninhabited island in Lake Prespa, North Macedonia. The research, conducted by a team led by Dragan Arsovski from the Macedonia Ecological Society, revealed a skewed sex ratio with over 1,000 turtles on the island, where for every female there are 19 males. This imbalance has resulted in sexual coercion that inflicts severe injuries on the females, a factor reported by The New York Times based on findings published in the journal Ecology Letters.

The island, which is a forested plateau surrounded by steep cliffs, was initially thought to host a thriving population of Hermann turtles since research began in 2008. However, as Dr. Arsovski highlighted, a closer examination revealed that females are significantly outnumbered by males. Over 16 years of observations indicated that female turtles tend to be smaller and have shorter lifespans, likely due to the intensified competition and harassment from the male population. Previous studies have shown that males display aberrant mating behaviors, sometimes attempting to mate with each other or with inanimate objects, illustrating a clear disruption in the natural mating dynamics of the species.

The researchers noted disturbing behaviors among the turtles, particularly that males often follow females in a relentless pursuit. This pursuit leads to a scenario where females are overwhelmed; once exhausted, they are swarmed by males who can cause significant physical harm. It has been observed that three-quarters of the female turtles carry injuries to their reproductive organs as a result of these aggressive mating attempts. The findings shed light on a critical animal welfare issue and signal an urgent need for conservation strategies to protect the remaining Hermann turtle populations on this remote island from impending extinction.