Ventura County Star
May 4, 2003
Rescue group pleads, 'Don't buy hatchlings'
May 4, 2003
American Tortoise Rescue in Malibu is one of many turtle and tortoise groups
in North America calling on the pet industry to stop selling giant tortoises
called sulcatas. Many people who buy cute hatchlings are told sulcatas won't get
bigger than their tanks, says Susan Tellem, the Malibu group's co-founder. But
after five years, they can weigh 30 pounds or more, she says. "A fully grown
sulcata can weigh close to 200 pounds and can easily move a piano or walk
through a typical house or apartment wall," Tellem said.
Adult sulcatas can live 50 years or more. Males fight when placed together,
and females can easily produce 90 eggs a year. Tellem says zoos will not take
the cast-off pets, and owners are mistaken if they think they'll sell huge
sulcatas for a large profit. "Remaining options are to dump the animal in the
wild or give it up for adoption to a rescue group like ours," Tellem said. "But
we can only take a few of them once they are huge." The groups are asking the
public to stop buying sulcatas as hatchlings. "Overcrowded rescue (groups) will
soon run out of space," Tellem said. "Sadly, at that point, euthanasia might be
the only recourse."
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