How amazing...what a great story,thanks for sharing.n/p

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Posted by Hudson on May 21, 2002 at 22:48:53:

In Reply to: Fun Story About A Lost And Now Found Tortoise posted by Toby on May 21, 2002 at 18:00:55:

: I had to share this story with you guys, I'm sure you'll get a kick out of it.

: I had bought a Greek tortoise from Dean Ash way back in July or August of 2001. I had the hatchling for about a week and I'm embarrassed to say that I lost him. I had a very secure tortoise outdoor tortoise pen which had one flaw in that it had 3"x2" wire mesh fencing on one end that I had yet to fortify. So I put the Greek out to get some sun one day and when I went to retrieve him, I could not find him. I quickly realized that he had gotten out of the enclosure through the fence and down a steep hill. After looking for hours with my neighbor who was kind enough to help, I gave up the search. I wrote the little guy off, knowing that he would quickly die without the proper care a hatchling requires. I continued to scan the area every day thinking I might catch him out and about, but eventually gave up hope. The area he escaped into was a steep hill that went on and leveled out into a slope that went down the large hill my house is set on. I was so disappointed in myself for such a stupid error.

: Lets fast forward to the present here in May of 2002. I was on vacation in Hawaii with my family and had friends house sitting. I had left only my California Desert Tortoise, and my Sulcutta at the house for my friends to care for while I was gone. My rarer tortoises went to my mother who is fairly well versed in tortoises. So I call to check up on how things are going and my friends say, "You said there was only 1 in each pen for a total of 2 right? Well there is a third one about 3 inches round running around in the desert tortoise pen". After I fainted I asked 20 questions and determined that either someone had dropped off another tortoise in the pen, knowing that I own tortoises, or that it was the Greek tortoise. I told them to get the tortoise the next day and bring it inside and put it in one of the indoor enclosures I had not used yet. They said ok and when I called back the next day they said my mom had come over (at my request) and identified the tortoise as a California Desert Tortoise. So I figured that someone had dropped him off not wanting to care for him anymore. So I get home and discover that my mom (ugh!) had put the little guy back out in the pen with my other CDT. Well, guess what? He got out again and escaped. That was yesterday. Today I was able to find him near the fence and identified him as the Greek I had lost 10 months ago. He has grown nicely and has almost doubled in size with a very smooth shell. Now back in my care, I am so pleased to have found him and surprised that he made it through such a cold winter here on the Central Coast of California.

: This story is a tribute to the Greek Tortoise!

: For what it's worth....

: Toby

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: : I had to share this story with you guys, I'm sure you'll get a kick out of it. : : I had bought a Greek tortoise from Dean Ash way back in July or August of 2001. I had the hatchling for about a week and I'm embarrassed to say that I lost him. I had a very secure tortoise outdoor tortoise pen which had one flaw in that it had 3"x2" wire mesh fencing on one end that I had yet to fortify. So I put the Greek out to get some sun one day and when I went to retrieve him, I could not find him. I quickly realized that he had gotten out of the enclosure through the fence and down a steep hill. After looking for hours with my neighbor who was kind enough to help, I gave up the search. I wrote the little guy off, knowing that he would quickly die without the proper care a hatchling requires. I continued to scan the area every day thinking I might catch him out and about, but eventually gave up hope. The area he escaped into was a steep hill that went on and leveled out into a slope that went down the large hill my house is set on. I was so disappointed in myself for such a stupid error. : : Lets fast forward to the present here in May of 2002. I was on vacation in Hawaii with my family and had friends house sitting. I had left only my California Desert Tortoise, and my Sulcutta at the house for my friends to care for while I was gone. My rarer tortoises went to my mother who is fairly well versed in tortoises. So I call to check up on how things are going and my friends say, "You said there was only 1 in each pen for a total of 2 right? Well there is a third one about 3 inches round running around in the desert tortoise pen". After I fainted I asked 20 questions and determined that either someone had dropped off another tortoise in the pen, knowing that I own tortoises, or that it was the Greek tortoise. I told them to get the tortoise the next day and bring it inside and put it in one of the indoor enclosures I had not used yet. They said ok and when I called back the next day they said my mom had come over (at my request) and identified the tortoise as a California Desert Tortoise. So I figured that someone had dropped him off not wanting to care for him anymore. So I get home and discover that my mom (ugh!) had put the little guy back out in the pen with my other CDT. Well, guess what? He got out again and escaped. That was yesterday. Today I was able to find him near the fence and identified him as the Greek I had lost 10 months ago. He has grown nicely and has almost doubled in size with a very smooth shell. Now back in my care, I am so pleased to have found him and surprised that he made it through such a cold winter here on the Central Coast of California. : : This story is a tribute to the Greek Tortoise! : : For what it's worth.... : : Toby

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