I can think of some herp societes/volenteers. in Fl that would do it for free. In fact I think its been done before.

Instead of the city PAYING for relocation with questionable outcome, they could adopt out the tortoises (under strict guidelines, for example thorough vetting of applicants and pledge for breeding program participation) for a fee--tortoises go to good homes, actually making MORE tortoises, don't risk introducing pathogens to an existing population (at the relocation site), and the city actually MAKES money instead of SPENDS money.

Of course, this doesn't address the real problem (habitat loss), and I'm sure the PeTA crowd would go nuts because "animals belong in the wild" regardless of unintended consequences (disease, homing instinct leading to reoad mortality, etc).
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

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