Celebrant Pam Vetter


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Turtles and tortoises need homes
Contributed by: Pam Vetter

10/12/06 Valley News Article

One rescue organization has taken in 6,475 captive desert tortoises in the state of California over eight years. They average close to 1,000 tortoise rescues each year, half of those being juveniles and hatchlings bred in captivity. The tortoises which have been taken in by the twelve chapters of the California Turtle and Tortoise club are struggling to find homes.

Stephanie Pappas, president of the Valley Chapter of the California Turtle and Tortoise Club and vice president of the Desert Tortoise Preserve Committee, believes in taking care of our animals.

"Don't buy turtles and tortoises from pet stores. There are so many animals who need homes," Pappas said.

"People took desert tortoises from the wild, bred them, and now are abandoning them and returning them to the wild. We're trying to educate the public not to release their captive pets," Pappas said. "Turtles and tortoises are also showing up in shelters across the Valley. Twenty percent of them are turned in by owners while 80 percent of them are lost animals. Tortoises are great escape artists."

African Sulcata Tortoises are especially good at escaping.

"People buy a cute little tortoise that fits into the palm of their hand at the pet store. No one explains to the owner that the Sulcata will weigh 80 lbs within 10 years. Sulcatas need sunlight and space. They like to ram into things, they can climb, they can dig out, and they're smart. A Sulcata will wait for an open door. They can travel an acre or more in a day," Pappas said. "They require a proper environment and they need a large space. A Sulcata may be less maintenance than a dog or cat, but like other turtles and tortoises, they need an outdoor environment, no pool, secure fencing, grass and food to eat on their own, no pesticides or fertilizer in the yard, and no dogs, because dogs are predators of tortoises just like raccoons."

The Sulcata is a fun, outgoing tortoise who is nicknamed the garbage disposal tortoise, because they eat everything. They are pet trade tortoises and are not owned by the state. But, legally, the state of California owns all of the California Desert Tortoises. Owners are required to have a permit to house a California Desert Tortoise. They can't be sold, it's illegal to release them into the wild, it's illegal to take native tortoises from the wild, it's illegal to take them out of the state, but you can adopt a captive desert tortoise.

Not everyone knows how to take care of a tortoise.

"People don't feed them right. They suffer from deformities and bone disease because people do not provide the proper diet or environment. Owners need to be educated on proper housing, care, and nutrition. The average turtle or tortoise can live for 60 to 150 years. Tortoises are herbivores; they love grasses, weeds and perennial flowers. Ninety percent of their diet is grass and weeds. They love roses, hibiscus, and wild mustard greens. They can't live on lettuce alone. They also need a water source and natural sunshine. But, Oleander and Trumpet Vine are both poisonous, so owners need to be aware," Pappas said. "If tortoises don't get enough sun, don't get the proper food, there will be deformities. Hydration, food, and sunlight are the most important things for your tortoise. Education is key to owning a tortoise. They do make great pets, but also need proper environments."

Some rescue groups do not adopt tortoises to homes with children.

"To me, children are a good educational tool. If we educate them now, teach them how to care for animals, we will make them responsible pet owners as adults," Pappas explained.

The situation for tortoises is overwhelming. There are more desert tortoises in captivity, in the state of California, than in the wild.

"Over-breeding of captive desert tortoises is a huge problem," Pappas said. "Pet trade turtles and tortoises like Sulcatas were stolen from the wild population to be bred. Their native population in Africa is dwindling. We have to continue to educate the public. Donations are always welcome so we can continue to care for the turtles and tortoises that need a home."

The Valley Chapter of the California Turtle and Tortoise Club meets at 7:30 p.m. on the third Friday of the month at the Woodland Hills Christian Church, 5920 Shoup Avenue, Woodland Hills.

For more information link to www.Tortoise.org.

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