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Shell game: Owner drills tortoise, attaches handle

Shell game: Owner drills tortoise, attaches handle

What the hell is wrong with people!? Obviously these torts spine is part of their shell, and you know… their shell is part of their body! They can feel that yo! Do you mind if I drill in your love handles to make a leash so I can keep track of you? oh you do? well.. ok then. 

Happy these torts got rescued.

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He (the tortoise) takes up a little space. But he’s a character, you know?” he laughs. “He loves to hang with you. They don’t do much, but they love to come over if you’re sitting in the yard and sit next to you. He’s got a little social side of him.

Animals in Clint Eastwood’s life show the tender side – Paw Print Post: A community for Dog, Cat, and Pet Owners – USATODAY.com

Clint Eastwood clearly one ups Leonardo DiCaprio as most famous tort owner. Its good to hear his tort has a suitable home and a quality personality. Never let anyone tell you these animals are boring. 

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

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.
 

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Leo DiCaprio Shells Out Cash for Exotic New Pet | TMZ.com

Leo DiCaprio Shells Out Cash for Exotic New Pet | TMZ.com

Oh TMZ, you really need to get your facts straight. A Sulcata is a tortoise not a turtle. The terms are not really interchangeable. 

I suppose I’ve gotta respect his pet choice. If I had a big house and 400 dollars to spend I’d probably get myself one of those cuties too. As for size, a 38 pound Sulcata is not all that big, its likely gonna grow even bigger in a few years. Sulcatas are the 3rd largest species of tortoise in the world (third after Galapagos and Aldabra tortoises). Here’s hoping DiCaprio read some fact sheets like this one http://www.sulcata-station.org/basics.html before purchasing. And he best hire someone to give that tort a soak every few days when he’s away filming movies I won’t pay ten dollars to see.

Oh, and I’m a little jealous of the tort enclosure he’ll be able to build for his new friend.  If I were him I’d go for a quality replica of the Hollywood hills for that sulcata to roam around.