It looks like he's part tortoise, part rolling chair! That's because he is!
Gamera is a 12 year old, 23 pound Sulcata tortoise. His front left leg was injured, and had to be amputated. The veterinarians came up with a clever way to help him get around by getting a wheel from the hardware store and attaching it with a super strong glue. He now lives at Washington State University, in Pullman, Washington, as part of their veterinary teaching hospital, and is able to get around just fine.
Sulcata tortoises grow to be large and can live a long time. (The largest known was 232 pounds, and the oldest one in captivity is now 56 years old.) In the wild, they are found in the Sahara Desert, in Africa.
Gamera has a long and active life ahead of him! Watch him go!
More information about Sulcata tortoises here.
Although they start out cute and small-- about 2 to 3 inches as hatchlings, it is important to remember that they WILL get bigger. Sulcatas are popular pets because they are so cute and tiny, and people forget that the little bitty tortoise will eventually become a great big tortoise that will need lots of space and lots of care.
See, tiny!
Now look at the baby on an adult!
These guys are over 100 pounds each!
No comments:
Post a Comment