Comments on: Desert Tortoise: Twizzler

By: Kris

Kris — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:09:54 +0000

Thanks for your response, Paula. I guess some things can only be learned through trial and error. Thanks for sharing Twizzler’s story.

By: zoodog

zoodog — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:27:23 +0000

Thanks Paula! Twizzler hears a Tweet…

Moderator’s note: Yes, indeed. The San Diego Zoo has two Twitter accounts so you can get quickly get the latest news and fun updates on our animals. Visit twitter.com and search for “zooconservation” and “sandiegozoo”

By: Paula from the DTCC

Paula from the DTCC — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:21:14 +0000

Kris,

I like to think that wildlife researchers always have the best intentions, but sometimes we don’t learn until too late that we have done something that wasn’t really such a great thing for the species we are studying. The good news is that researchers today are extremely careful about applying epoxy to a tortoise’s shell, and they actually have to be permitted to do so by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Sad story, but lesson learned. And Twizzler is quite a testament to how resilient tortoises can be!

By: Susan (UK)

Susan (UK) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:33:17 +0000

Thank you for another instalment about the desert tortoises Paula. Each time you write the list of things people do to these poor things gets longer. Who on earth would want to paint the shell in snazzy colours? And I would have thought that researchers would have known better than to leave epoxy resin on the shell. I never knew you could microchip a tortoise though! Keep up the good work.

By: Kris

Kris — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:13:15 +0000

I am very saddened to learn that research conducted to help us learn more about these wonderful creatures ended up causing them such harm! I am equally grateful to know your group is out there ready and able to rehabilitate them. What can be done about this? Many people are opposed to testing products on animals and things like that but, I, for one always believed that research to learn about the animals themselves was done with great care and respect for the species. I guess I am wrong.