Our radiated tortoises got a clean bill of health during their physicals this year. They have moved inside for the winter, and that’s where all the pictures below were taken. When warm enough, they will head outside again, but for now, you can come see them in the Indoor Viewing area on the Lemur Deck.Read more
Posts filed in: Tortoise
QuikPics: Radiated Tortoise Health Checks
Dr. Vanderford checked out the radiated tortoises yesterday during Vet Rounds. Animal Care Specialist Janine had to manage the five tortoises. You would think it would be easy, but tortoises come quickly when strawberries are involved. Janine corralled the tortoises– allowing for an easy check for everyone involved.Read more
Christmas 2018
Regular blog readers know the routine, but for new readers here’s the scoop. Working on Christmas is something I have done for years. (Even before working at the Museum). My prep starts the week before, making sure I understand any treatments, routines, behaviors, tasks, diets, etc. before the 25th arrives. I set out my layers of clothes, snacks, set the alarms for 4:48 and 4:55 (although I really want to be at the Museum at 5 AM so I canRead more
Tortoise Shell Casting
Our Explore the Wild exhibit area has wonderful native and exotic animals to take in and enjoy. At each location we have “interactives” for people to get up-close with. It might be scat at bears or fur at wolves and bird calls at the Wetland Overlook. Each item helps people to connect with the animals and build a relationship with something one cannot touch, or sometimes even see. We’ve been trying to get a tortoise shell at Lemur/Tortoise Overlook sinceRead more
T-Shirts for Conservation
Voting goes through Saturday to decide which T-shirt we will make this summer. Both T-shirts are great (each design below). Want to learn more about the conservation of radiated tortoises and ring-tailed lemurs in Madagascar, or of red wolves right here in North Carolina: Click here! Read more
Trouble for Tortoises
In April 11,000 critically endangered radiated tortoises were rescued from wildlife traffickers in Madagascar. Click here for the press release. I find it overwhelming to think about the scope of this seizure. The Museum joined the Radiated Tortoise Species Survival Plan (SSP) just over one year ago- our five radiated tortoises arrived in March 2017. We are now part of a group of accredited institutions that work together to support the conservation and recovery of radiated tortoises. Radiated tortoises occupyRead more