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THE SUN (London, UK) 21 September 04 The tortoise time bomb - Growing Spur-t ... giant African Spur Tortoises have been sold by mistake (Robin Perrie)
Thousands of pet owners are sitting on a timebomb after being sold giant tortoises by mistake.
The animal lovers were told their pets were common Mediterranean tortoises which grow to a mere 9in.
But they were actually flogged huge African varieties which grow to 3ft long, 18ins high, weigh 15st and live for 100 years.
The monsters scoff so much they cost £7 a day — or £2,555-a-year — to feed compared to just 20p for ordinary tortoises.
Now animal campaigners fear many will be dumped in the wild when they reach full size in five or six years from now, causing massive devastation to plant life.
Ann Ovenstone, secretary of the International Tortoise Association, said: “They will destroy or eat everything in their way.
“People who thought they were buying a small, cute tortoise inches long are left feeling their garden has been invaded.”
The crisis began four years ago when importers brought in thousands of Africa Spur Tortoises because they did not need to be licensed.
The creatures were mistakenly labelled as Mediterranean Spur Thigh Tortoises, the type most people keep.
A “normal” animal will get by on a piece of cabbage, some lettuce and a tomato daily.
But an African Spur munches three cabbages, six lettuces, five bananas and a mound of tomatoes and cucumber.
Shops have stopped selling them but Ann, whose group in South Wales has rehoused 20, warned: “This will get worse until it reaches epidemic proportions.”
The tortoise time bomb

"Thousands of pet owners are sitting on a timebomb after being sold giant tortoises by mistake. The animal lovers were told their pets were common Mediterranean tortoises which grow to a mere 9in."

Maybe these so-called "animal lovers" should have done a little research before taking on the responsibility of a pet that they obviously knew little to nothing about? Someone seriously goes into a pet shop and buys a new pet when they don't even know what it is? Wow. Who's really to blame here?

"But they were actually flogged huge African varieties which grow to 3ft long, 18ins high, weigh 15st and live for 100 years."

15st = 255.6032172 lbs! Not that any of the other figures were entirely "average" either. Sensationalism at it's best.

"The monsters scoff so much they cost £7 a day — or £2,555-a-year — to feed compared to just 20p for ordinary tortoises.
Now animal campaigners fear many will be dumped in the wild when they reach full size in five or six years from now, causing massive devastation to plant life."

Mine must be inferior because they have attained their full size after 6 years. Maybe I'm just a bad tortoise dad?

"Ann Ovenstone, secretary of the International Tortoise Association, said: “They will destroy or eat everything in their way."

Hide your children!!!

"“People who thought they were buying a small, cute tortoise inches long are left feeling their garden has been invaded.”
The crisis began four years ago when importers brought in thousands of Africa Spur Tortoises because they did not need to be licensed. The creatures were mistakenly labelled as Mediterranean Spur Thigh Tortoises, the type most people keep."

Duh. Again... Who buys a pet without even knowing what it is?

"A “normal” animal will get by on a piece of cabbage, some lettuce and a tomato daily.
But an African Spur munches three cabbages, six lettuces, five bananas and a mound of tomatoes and cucumber."

So that's why mine haven't reached full size at 6 years like everyone else's do! I've been feeding them grass and weeds thinking that was good for them. My bad.

"Shops have stopped selling them but Ann, whose group in South Wales has rehoused 20, warned: “This will get worse until it reaches epidemic proportions.”"

Hide your children!!!

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It's all in fun so get over it

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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care