Debrecen4U January 10, 2025

Tortoise babies hatched in Debrecen Zoo

It’s been another busy start to the year at Zoo Debrecen, with the hatching of spurred tortoises.

The armoured tortoises are doing great in their winter quarters, as is proven by the fact that, like last year, they have delighted the Debrecen Zoo with many healthy offspring at the beginning of this year.

The spurred tortoise, native to the Sahara and the Sahel region in southern Africa, is the third largest land tortoise in the world. Its shell length can exceed 80 cm, and the males can weigh up to 100 kg.

It is named after the spur-like growths on its hind legs. It is threatened by loss of life due to desertification, overgrazing, and illegal trade. It is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is included in Appendix II of the Washington Convention (CITES).

Source and photo credit: dehir.hu