Posted on 03/03/2005 6:10:06 AM PST by Theodore R.
Tortoise mystery solved
By Michelle Dynes rep2@wyomingnews.com Published in the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle
CHEYENNE - While offers rolled in Tuesday to give a found giant tortoise a good home, the animal turned out to be dead.
Meanwhile, the mystery of how the turtle ended up in the Capital City was solved.
Terri Smith discovered the tortoise Sunday morning while walking her dog behind Sapp Bros. Big C Truck Stop on Interstate 80 Service Road.
On Tuesday, Max McCartney said he bought the tortoise in Dallas three years ago before moving to Denver and then to Cheyenne.
The tortoise, named Le Pew, was moved to a shed to hibernate, but one night someone forgot to turn on the space heater, he said.
McCartney, 16, said Le Pew had stiffened.
He added that a veterinarian told him to keep the tortoise in temperatures above 75 degrees.
After the animal died, McCartney moved him near the fence behind Traveler's Inn Motel (formerly Sapp Bros. Motel) for burial. He said it was getting too dark to dig, so he left it by the fence.
McCartney lives at the motel, which his mother manages.
When the tortoise came up missing, McCartney said he had assumed a coyote or someone interested in the shell had run off with the carcass.
After she found the tortoise, Smith called the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Bill Turner, herpetological coordinator for the agency, took it to Cheyenne Pet Clinic to get the opinion of a veterinarian. Bob Farr at the clinic said the tortoise likely was dead for a couple of days.
Cause of death could have been any number of things from pneumonia to stress to old age, he said.
"It doesn't look like anything traumatic happened to it," he said. "It was well taken care of."
Turner said the tortoise is not endangered, but it is rare.
The animal turned out not to be an American desert tortoise as was first suspected. Turner said it likely was an African spurred tortoise, the largest continental tortoise.
These animals are native to the southern perimeter of the Sahara Desert. Only tortoises from the island Aldabra and the Galapagos islands are larger.
"You usually have to go to a zoo to see something like that," he said.
The animal measured 20 inches in length, but males can grow as long as 36 inches. Turner said American tortoises usually measure no more than 15 inches.
He added the male tortoise was not as old as the original guess of 130 years. It probably was closer to between 20 and 30 years old, but the animals can live as long as a century, he added.
The animal's actual age is probably closer to seven or eight, McCartney said.
Turner said that tortoises are well liked as pets.
"People like them because they're big, and people want big," Turner said.
McCartney said now that he has found out what happened to the missing tortoise, he plans to give it a proper burial.
Soup for the homeless!
Duh - How about FREEZING to death and neglect on the part of the owner.
"McCartney said now that he has found out what happened to the missing tortoise, he plans to give it a proper burial."
Glad he's going to take care of it now - A little late.
The shell could be used as a helmet for Ted Kennedy.
It's been a bad week for big animals out of their habitats. First the tortise, then the lobster in Pittsburgh. What next, Fat Ted at an AA meeting?
With the exception of the "Ted" bit, you echoed my thoughts exactly.
So glad you posted this, as I , being a devout coward, would surely have not faired well under the resulting slings and arrows hurled by the PETA wanna be's. ;)
I guess he never heard of a timer.
Well, half of the people anyway.
I have 3 of this species of tortoise they are too cool. If you want a cute little baby one look here http://www.kingsnake.com
McCartney, 16, said Le Pew had stiffened.
Well, obviously Le Pew probably smells to high Le Pew now....
It's obvious. Viagra overdose.
This guy has a future with the NYTimes.
This guy=This girl (duh to me.)
I've been to Cheyenne in February.. Not fit for man nor beast.
HE (Ted Kennedy) does not deserve the honor. I have much more respect for this tortise than that drunken socialist.
But he has a big ugly jead to match his gut. But true about respect for the tortoise. Maybe a #5 washtub?
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