Pika'aya means tortoise in the Shivwits dialect of Southern Paiute.
Southern Paiute land in Washington County could hold some important information about Mojave Desert tortoises. To learn more, researchers are taking a holistic approach to studying this endangered animal.
The project is called Pika’aya Tooveep or “Tortoise Country” in Paiute. Part of the endeavor involves students and wildlife biologists surveying the Shivwits Band of Paiute Indians reservation for signs of tortoises, which isn’t usually allowed.
Ann McLuckie is a biologist with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. She said the land on either side of the reservation is an important recovery area for the tortoises. Surveying the animals on the reservation will help them understand how much movement there is between the two areas.

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