Removing an animal from the wild has the same effect on the environment as shooting it in the head with a gun. In fact, it's worse, because it leaves no carcass behind for the scavengers.
Since they routinely execute innocent and mentally challenged people in Texas, I guess executing them for stealing a tortoise isn't that much of a stretch.
My pond is just a big cement hole in the ground, about the size of a hot tub. No filtration besides the plants. I suck the muck off the bottom every once in a while. On this day, we had a couple visitors....
Absolutely! And not only are you removing the one tortoise you purchase, but you are also removing the others that died before they ever made it to market.
I adopted 2 DTs from the CTTC. The first was near death when I got it, despite having been "checked out by our vet". I eventually had to have her euthanized after trying for over a year to nurse her back to health. When I complained I was given a second one. She is fabulous and I still have her...