Reptile & Amphibian Forums

LOS ANGELES TIMES (California) 20 August 08 Endangered tortoise found burned to death
(AP) An endangered tortoise has been found burned to death in a fire grate at Black Rock campground in the Yucca Valley area.
Joe Zarki, information officer for Joshua Tree National Park, says rangers are seeking information from anyone who knows anything related to the dead desert tortoise found Aug. 4. He estimates the tortoise was 45 years old.
Desert tortoises are a threatened species, protected by the federal Endangered Species Act as well as state wildlife laws. The desert tortoise also is California’s official state reptile.
Endangered tortoise found burned to death

KPSP (Palm Springs, California) 05 September 08 Reward Offered for Tortoise Killers
A $5,000 reward has been offered for information about a desert tortoise killed last month at Joshua Tree National. The dead tortoise was found burned in a fire grate August 4th, at a campsite in the park.
The reward is funded by the U.S. Humane Society, the Defenders of Wildlife and Joshua Tree Tortoise Rescue.
Desert tortoises are a threatened species, protected by the Federal Endangered Species Act as well as state wildlife laws. The desert tortoise also is California's official state reptile.
Anyone with information, please call Joshua Tree National Park: 760-367-5541
Reward Offered for Tortoise Killers

stories like this absolutely disgust me... whoever did this should die in a fire themselves.

Or worse, if there is anything worse than slow death by fire!

just gotta find a big enough fire grate.