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Status: Vulnerable. Diet in wild: succulent plants, grasses, flowers. Life span in wild: Up to 80 years. Weight: Up to 200 pounds. Native habitat: Southern edge of the Sahara desert in Africa.
Black Pine Animal Park 1426 W. 300 N. P.O. Box 02 Albion, IN 46701 (260) 636-7383
©2008
Professional Animal Retirement Center, Inc.
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Sulcata Tortoise Commonly
known as an African spurred tortoise, the The pyramid-like spurs on this reptile's protective shell help tell the tale of this animals' health. Malnutrition will lead to the spurs becoming tall, like a pyramid. A healthy tortoise will have a smooth shell, and can live up to 80 years! These cold-blooded reptiles are herbivores, and they graze on fresh grass, flowers, clover, cactus fruits, and a variety of roots and other greens.
Sulcatas nest in the fall and females will use their long, spiky front legs to help dig up to 8 inches into the ground to lay a clutch of up to 30 eggs. About eight weeks later, 4 to 6 centimeter long babies will hatch. Most active at dusk and dawn, sulcatas require warm conditions, and will burrow if temperatures drop too low. Regarded as a sign of virtue, happiness, and longevity by the people of Senegal, they have long been protected by humans and today can be purchased as an exotic pet. Unfortunately, in recent years they have been vastly oversold by pet stores that don't educate potential owners on proper care, life expectancy, and how large they will grow to be. This leaves many, many animals in need. Black Pine has rescued two sulcata tortoises in recent years, and turned away dozens more needing a home. Lack of funding and space makes it impossible to rescue more. To learn more about keeping tortoises as pets, click here. Click here to learn more about sulcata tortoises. Click here to learn how you can help Black Pine's tortoises. |
The Animals
sulcata is the largest of
the African land tortoises reaching adult weights of up to 200
pounds. Only the Galapagos and Aldabra tortoises get larger.