Leopards actually drink quite a bit, so daily soaking is necessary. Leopards actually don't come from deserts, but grasslands in South Eastern and Southern Africa. They are usually found about oxbows, lakes, rivers, and any low spot that will collect rain. I remember one particular photo in which some rangers on a patrol photographed a leopard tortoise drinking water from a tire track that had filled with the previous night's rain. Believe it or not, they are actually good swimmers. Highfield's video on keeping leopard tortoises shows one fording a river many times deeper than the animal's length in South Africa. Despite this apparent aquadynamic ability, it is true that they have low tollerance for highly humid environments, though captive ones can develop a fair amount of resilience. Hatchlings and wildcaughts, however, should not be exposed to too much humidity and temperature fluctuation.

T.G.

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