SonjaAngulate
New Member
- Joined
- Apr 22, 2015
- Messages
- 6
Hi everyone. I have had damaged and rescued indigenous tortoises (mostly angulates and 3 leopards/mountain tortoises) for many years and I must say that I do not support the trade in reptiles. Most of our tortoise species in South Africa are endangered to due loss of habitation and them being killed on roads. We need permits to keep them in a captive environment and people who keep them in terrariums or other unsuitable places would never get permits. Here you need a large outdoor sunny area with plants, lawn, shelter, sandy soil, water to drink and to bathe, suitable foods and a safe fence. You must remember that even though they may be a cute pet to you, they are living beings and to take them out of a safe natural environment in a climate that they are used to and belong in, and then put them in a cage/terrarium is cruel. Worse than solitary confinement in a jail.
Now my problem is that my latest road rescue called Boomerang got out of my garden, where - I have no idea as it is completely fenced off - she must have used those sharp littlle nails to clamber over things, and the neighbours lab mauled her. She is hurt quite badly with bleeding shell and deep puncture wound under her belly. She may have lost one front leg as it is either pulled in deeply or chewed off. But not bleeding. Her shell is cracked too (under). I am not sure whether she will survive but she has made it through 2 nights. During the day she is slathered with antiseptic cream and I bathe her twice a day in water with antiseptic/antibacterial in as well as clean water. This is also helpful to ward off ants and flies. Ants can kill, I have seen them kill a damaged adult angulate once, and babies they will overwhelm easily. From late afternoon to next morning she is inside the house on a towel to be kept warm and dry. Anything else I can do? I am considering some form of 'patching up' under her carapace but she must heal a bit first to ensure that no infection is under it. We are away from civilisation so a vet is out of the question at the moment. Thanks and sorry about the sermon but I feel the need to share my views on wild animals in the pet trade.
Now my problem is that my latest road rescue called Boomerang got out of my garden, where - I have no idea as it is completely fenced off - she must have used those sharp littlle nails to clamber over things, and the neighbours lab mauled her. She is hurt quite badly with bleeding shell and deep puncture wound under her belly. She may have lost one front leg as it is either pulled in deeply or chewed off. But not bleeding. Her shell is cracked too (under). I am not sure whether she will survive but she has made it through 2 nights. During the day she is slathered with antiseptic cream and I bathe her twice a day in water with antiseptic/antibacterial in as well as clean water. This is also helpful to ward off ants and flies. Ants can kill, I have seen them kill a damaged adult angulate once, and babies they will overwhelm easily. From late afternoon to next morning she is inside the house on a towel to be kept warm and dry. Anything else I can do? I am considering some form of 'patching up' under her carapace but she must heal a bit first to ensure that no infection is under it. We are away from civilisation so a vet is out of the question at the moment. Thanks and sorry about the sermon but I feel the need to share my views on wild animals in the pet trade.