NAPLES DAILY NEWS (Florida) 27 March 08 Gopher tortoises found in bathtub during bust of Bonita brothel (Valli Finney) {Excerpts}

In some cultures, gopher tortoises are believed to have aphrodisiac qualities, according to folklore.

But Lee County Sheriff deputies were surprised to find three gopher tortoises in a Bonita Springs home after busting up a prostitution ring.

Deputies arrested two men — Jose Yosimar Fajardo, 21, and Braulio Michael Acevedo — Thursday and charged them with running a brothel, at 26659 Stardust Dr., where men were paying $25 for sex.

Acevedo also got booked in the Lee County jail on a felony cruelty charge in relation to the tortoises. In Florida, the gopher tortoise is a threatened species protected by state and federal laws.

Deputies found the three reptiles living in a bathtub filled with feces and dirty, cold water.

The gopher tortoises were found unresponsive and cold, said Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission spokesperson Joanne Adams. Deputies put the tortoises in their patrol cars with the heater on and saved them.

All three tortoises survived and later were released into the wild at Babcock Ranch, Adams said.

“We really don’t know what they used them for,” Adams said. “They could have wanted to eat them or maybe they wanted them for pets. Just like alligators and snakes, some people think of these animals as exotic pets.”

…
Gopher tortoises found in bathtub during bust of Bonita brothel

[ Show Entire Thread ]