found tortoise

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ceds

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hello all, I have joined your site just now, because I have rescued a tortoise from a busy suburban street and I am not sure what to do with it! I am located in the south eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Australia.
From what I've been able to learn in the past hour or so it is most likely a wild one displaced by recent storms. A local animal welfare organization suggested releasing it at a local golf course, but was unable to get much satisfaction from them.
Something that occurred to me was that it may be happy to live in the lake at Monash Uni which is very convenient. Perhaps there is a local (to me) member with some suggestions?
 

dmmj

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I would suggest you check your country's laws first on releasing animals, even native species. For example here in california once a desert tortoise is taken from captivity it can't be released back into the wild. Good luck with your search though I am pretty sure we have some australian members.
 

egyptiandan

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Can you post a picture of the tortoise (in Australia all turtles are called tortoises) you found? We would hopefully be able to figure out if it was native or not.

Danny
 

ceds

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I'm pleased to report a happy ending to the stray tortoise dilemna that i was facing. Further searching revealed that the local Botanic Gardens were upgrading the water supply to the large lagoon in the gardens following the end of a long drought. As a result, they are looking forward to the return of native species to previous levels. Having identified Hugo (sorry) as a male Eastern Long-necked Tortoise, I was happy to help out!
Incidentally, as I understand it, the term tortoise in Australia (along British Empire lines) refers to mainly fresh water specimens with toes as opposed to flippers, as in the great sea turtles. This was correct scientifically too, however science has since adopted the US terminology or definitions, throwing me for one into confusion! That's how I understand it!66210_121833841207463_100001425424129_130721_3120711_n.jpg67608_121833884540792_100001425424129_130723_5459092_n.jpg72568_121833871207460_100001425424129_130722_2297223_n.jpg69825_121833781207469_100001425424129_130719_609747_n.jpg68340_121835707873943_100001425424129_130730_1619982_n.jpg
 
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Kristina

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A classic example of how names can be misleading. I believe that in Australia all chelonians are called tortoises - this is what we in America would call a turtle.

I too am glad there was a happy ending!
 
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Ritchie52clayton

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I think you must have already made a small pond for it.Let it stay with you.Anyways these creatures do not require much attention and care, they thrive on their own without disturbing us.
 

Traveller

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Great news, happy endings are always nice to hear about.
Now that you've been introduced to these great creatures do
you feel the need to become owned by one?
 
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