San Diego Zoo tortoises get an enclosure more fitting of their grand stature – latimes.com

Seriously, how can you overlook that face?? Glad to hear the Galapagos tortoises at the San Diego zoo are getting the attention they deserve and some sweeter digs (though i’d still go for some city replica’s made out of dirt for these guys to roam over). The coverage of the new tortoise enclosure is doing a good job to show us the unique nature of these creatures. They aren’t just stones with legs that never do anything. Theses guys have a personality for sure.

‘from the LA Times Article:

… veteran tortoise watchers, such as members of the San Diego Turtle and Tortoise Society, know that each has a distinct personality. Each also has a number on its shell.

Abbot (No. 25) is known for a stubborn streak, sometimes refusing to move even for a carrot or other leafy vegetable. The same is true with Madeline (No. 5), although she will sometimes fall in line when she sees other females being cooperative.

Chips (No. 9) seems the most playful and Emerson (No. 30) the most aggressive. Winston (No. 2B) sometimes blocks the door to the tortoise “bedroom” until he gets fed.

I hope all the media attention has the same effect on the masses as it did on Terry Gardner of the Huffington Post: Remind us to stop and admire the tortoises.