Introducing a 98 Year Old Pet Tortoise.

This week COGNEWS met with Lynn Smith, a tortoise custodian since the age of 6, to find out more about these fascinating creatures.

The Lady Tortoise, pictured, is 98 years of age, something many of us humans aspire to! Lynn has 5 Tortoises who live in a converted greenhouse with a shelter each, and their individual UV sun lamps to keep them warm and mobile in UK temperatures. Tortoises occur on all continents except Australia and Antarctica. They also inhabit many islands, although numerous island populations and species are now extinct because of human occupation.*

Lynn told us that since receiving her first Tortoise, they have been part of her life ever since. The tortoise in our picture is still laying eggs thanks to Lynn's attentive care. This tortoise lives with her sister and three males which are roughly 30 years old. They are all vegetarian, and just need a calcium flour supplement in their diet of weeds and dandelion leaves. Several times I noticed them leaving their lamp for the outside world only to turn around once they experience the outside autumn temperatures.

Lynn's Tortoises are an endangered species; they cannot be brought or sold under the 1974 CITES regulation. Tortoise rehoming takes place via the Tortoise Protection Group who will vet your home before adoption. Lynn's 5 Tortoises and others around the country will soon be put into hibernation. A straw lined fridge is set at 5 degrees so that they don't wake up during the sometimes mild days that we experience in January. Before hibernation they are starved for 3-4 weeks so that their gut clears of food, this prevents possible infection. With proper care a Tortoise can out live most humans.

If you are thinking of keeping a pet tortoise, Russian and African Tortoises can still be bought from some pet shops, but do make sure the shop knows their breeds, as some of these little creatures can grow to 7 stone in weight!

Thank you Lynn for sharing your fascinating pets with us.

Did you know - A group of tortoises is called a creep.

*Britanica

Introducing a 98 Year Old Pet Tortoise last updated 10.10.24