Posted on 04/03/2010 3:15:33 PM PDT by West Texas Chuck
I'm out mountain biking at the local nature preserve here in Garland, TX, and I find this monster lumbering down the trail, munching on grass and weeds. Gotta be either an escapee or another abandoned animal at Rowlett Creek Preserve. I sent his pix to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and they identified him as Geochelone sulcata, native to Africa. He's about twice the size of my bike helmet, prolly 30 lbs. or so I'd guess. TPWD said he'd never survive here with north Texas winters but he has been spotted in the same general vicinity since last year, so I guess he's OK. I don't have any place to keep him or I would go find him and bring him home. I have contacted local TV to see if they will run a story to try and find his owners, but so far nothing.
LOL! I see what you did there! That said, I don't know anyone that rescues turtles, although I have been known to stop and get a few big ones off the road when they are stuck in the middle of the hiway. I guess I just have mental problems......
Kindness to animals is admirable when a situation presents itself.
I am troubled by people who are dedicated to offer charity - which is proper to humans - to animals.
Animals are lovely creatures, but they can’t love and can’t be loved.
Neat looking tortise. Very prehistoric looking.
I think you should paint your bike helmet to look like it.
Run! Run Away! Run Away Fast! It’s Godzirra!
Believe in or not the monster's real Japanese name is Gojira. When asked to pronounce it, a Japanese said, "Godzilla".
What a cool creature.
Here is the email I got from the herp guy in Austin.
“Yes, that is a Geochelone sulcata, native to Africa. They are very popular in the pet trade and have become very affordable in recent years. That’s a problem since they get huge (80+ lbs) and live FOREVER. Folks often get rid of them when they become 30 lb wrecking balls. The animal needs to be moved to a safe place. They can’t survive TX winters and aren’t well suited to N. TX in general. I can provide a home for the animal if you are able to capture it.”
That thing has to be at least 30 years old judging from his size and carapace.
In the Lake Cumberland area of KY the tv news did a story about a family of goats that lived on an island for 20 years. A week later someone went to the island and shot and killed every one of the goats.
A similar story happened near Ft Myers, Florida where a couple of ostriches lived on a secluded public land area outside the Everglades. Cute story about the male and female that had been there for years and vets said they may soon be parents.
Soon found one in a snare and the other only in pieces.
Don't let the crazies in on it. Just enjoy for yourself.
I’m not telling anybody exactly where we saw him, unless they can convince me it is there pet gone astray. The locals know. And I have a turtle sniffing dog if I ever need to go find that monster. I have 4 turtles and a tortoise here, when one wanders we put the dog out and tell her to find us a turtle. She knows her turtles, and I’ll bet she could find that one.
Chuck, he is in Austin, you’re in Garland. It’s the same climate. I suspect this guy is a re-seller. Keep the turtle man.....
LOL! Well hell Chuck, you're the expert, why are you asking on FR about such things.......;)
I just thought I’d throw it out there, I got one good link so far. I’d like to find him a good home, I’m not sure he’s safe over there.
We’ll see what happens. He’s been seen around there since last year apparently. My first sighting though.
Are these the ones that carry coconuts when they migrate?
Give these guys a call - I’m sure they would love to rescue it and find it a good home.
How about fencing in an area in your back yard to keep it? Or, if you don’t have a yard, maybe a friend would be willing to keep him in their yard?
Oooooooooookay then........LOL!
They grip them by the husks, I presume ;)
Really impressive. It would be neat to think it could be rescued. Good luck and let us know what happens.
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