Monster is the largest desert tortoise we've ever seen!
The Pet Desert Tortoise Hotline is continuing to stay busy with lots of unwanted pet desert tortoises being turned in. Operated by staff at the San Diego Zoo’s Desert Tortoise Conservation Center (DTCC), located in Las Vegas, Nevada, we are doing pickups on a weekly basis. One big issue that we see regularly: tortoises being left behind in abandoned and foreclosed homes.
Like most areas of the country, Las Vegas’ housing market has taken a pretty big tumble, and as a result, pet desert tortoises are increasingly being left behind in vacant homes. As the Hotline assistant, I have seen many cases in which a tortoise is found by a real estate agent, landscaper, or simply a good Samaritan neighbor with a keen eye; this was the case recently with one massively large tortoise who came to the DTCC from a foreclosed home. We have affectionately named him Monster, and we think he might be the largest desert tortoise on record!
Monster was found several weeks ago by a helpful neighbor who just happened to see him in the yard. What a shock it must have been to see this huge tortoise traipsing around the yard of a home that had been empty for weeks. When I went to the home to do the pickup, I was met by the neighbor as I arrived. When I unloaded the plastic tote to transport the tortoise back to the DTCC, the neighbor, with a look of surprise, told me that the tote would definitely not be big enough for this tortoise.
In disbelief, I told her that if the tortoise would not fit in the tote, it could not be a desert tortoise; instead, I thought it had to be some other large tortoise species, such as an African sulcata, which are also popular pets here in Las Vegas. You can imagine when I walked into the yard and saw the supersized desert tortoise that I was, to say the least, a little bit surprised! How was I going to get him back to the DTCC? With a bit of ingenuity and some great MacGyver skills, I was able to fashion a large transport carrier using both the plastic tote and a cardboard box, which delivered Monster safely to the DTCC.
Monster heads out from his enormous man-made burrow.
Since arriving at the DTCC, Monster has had his fair share of visitors! He’s been greeted by all of the staff at one time or another, and our seasonal staff members did a great job of digging him the largest burrow we’ve ever had. We can happily report that Monster is adapting well to his new surroundings, and with a little movement around his burrow, he’s always happy to come out and greet us! While Monster’s story had a happy ending, I’m reminded that for every happy ending for a lost or unwanted pet tortoise that is given up to us, there are many still stuck in the backyards of abandoned homes that we might never find out about.
I hope this might be a great reminder for folks to never leave a pet of any kind at a vacant home, even in the yard, because in most cases, the pet is not safe or comfortable, and if no one knows it’s there, it may never be rescued.
Marisa Musso is a research assistant at the San Diego Zoo’s Desert Tortoise Conservation Center.
It is painful to read about these tortoises which are abandoned and their recovery is left to chance. Your publicity in the affected area will minimize the untimely death of these quiet and dignified animals. Thank you for caring for them.
Can you give us more info about Monster? I was curious about the weight and size of Monster. It can have a nice future now, and I am grateful for the action of the neighbor.
Monster is over 17 inches long and weighs over 26 pounds! We had to bring him to a vet’s office to weigh him because we don’t have a scale big enough to hold him here at the DTCC. He has been here for several months now, and he seems to be less aggressive than when he arrived, possibly because he is now being fed a proper diet; no more dog food for him!
I am wondering why you think he was on a dog food diet. Is there a way to determine that?
We talked with the neighbors who knew the family that had previously lived in the house, and they told us more about Monster’s history, including that he was being fed dog food. Dog food is much higher in protein than these vegetarian tortoises can handle, so the dog food, combined with some other inappropriate food items, could have contributed to his massive growth.
thats sad, just another reminder how the economy effects everyone including our animals…..great job marisa,,,,
MARISA DEAR: I PLACED A COMENT AND A PLY TO FIND A BETTER SECURE PLACE FOR TWO SULCATAS SOME BODY WHO LOST HER HOUSE ASKED ME TO TAKE CARE. I AM 74 AND I AM AFRAID I WILL HAVE TO GIVE THEM AWAY BUT DO NOT KNOW WHERE THIS PLACE CAN BE. THEY ARE BEAUTIFULL CREATURES, NOT AGRESSSIVE AT ALL. THEY COME TO ME WHEN THEY HEAR MY STEPS, AND LET ME CAREESE THEIR HEAD. I REALLY LOVE THEM. AND WANT THE BEST FOR THEM, THANKS.
Hi
Where do you live Marie? If you are in CA the CA Turtle and Tortoise Club will help place unwanted pets. You can contact your local shelter they might know of an turtle or tortoise rescue in your area.
I LIVE IN SAN DIEGO,CA. THANKS FOR YOUR ADVISE. I WILL DO THAT.