ROSS-SHIRE JOURNAL (Dingwall, UK) 28 April 06 Little Amy and tortoise that could live to 160

Meet Speedy the giant tortoise and Tom Thumb, his little pal.

Both are residents at Milton’s Highland Reptile Rescue Centre, which is hosting a reptile roadshow in Inverness on May Day.

Maggie Nelson and husband Ronnie, who run the centre from their home in Old Mill Road, say it is becoming increasingly difficult to attract funding for creatures which “are not cute and furry”.

Maggie, whose main volunteer is Milton woman Joyce Malcolm, with her daughter Amy Malcolm (11) being the centre’s youngest helper, said, “We take reptiles and amphibians from all over Scotland, and when the need occurs, from over the border”.

“Speedy was bought as a normal tortoise, but he grew and he grew, so we gave one of our other tortoises to a woman who had him, and he will now stay here for good”.

“He will eventually have to be left in someone’s will because he will live for a long, long time, as much as 160 years. He’s only eight just now. He is a Sulcata tortoise from Africa”.

“Tom Thumb is a horsefield tortoise”.

He’s about two years old, and we will be rehoming him, but we’re not in a rush.

“We have got loads of other beasties, including Splodge the alligator snapping turtle - his tail looks like that of an alligator and he looks prehistoric. He’s a fantastic creature”.

“We also have an iguana which has had several strokes. But as long as he’s not suffering, one day we will find the right person to take him.” She added that members of the public will get to meet the reptiles at an upcoming event.

She added, “Finding ongoing funding was a severe problem for the rescue, as scaly creatures do not get the same sympathy as furry beasties, so we decided to try a different approach, and we now raise approximately 80 per cent of the running costs through recycling. B&Q at Inverness is our major recycling contributor and has kindly offered us the use of their car park for a May Day Reptile Roadshow. This will be on Monday, May 1, from noon until 4pm”.

“There will be lots to see and touch including snakes, lizards, tortoises, bugs and beasties. Also for the children, we will have a large snake skeleton.” A second roadshow is to be held at the Isabel Rhind Centre, Invergordon, on July 7.



http://www.rsjournal.co.uk/article.tvt?_ticket=O2HUK8KACK3SMLDEIOQNBPXDALOLQEHFURUSKONGARWEAUPBFNRGUU2901MAAQ6G9LLDNBF2TRRIVNNAHNSEASQ9CHYITRRLUNNAGWSEARO9CHVR7690&_scope=Flow/Ross-shire Journal/News&id=102383&ARTICLECAT=News

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